Applying for a shotfirer licence

When is this licence required?

A shotfiring licence is required to blast rock or similar solid material, or to damage, destroy any thing on or under land or water.

Licence holders are able to:

  • Purchase
  • Store (limited quantities)
  • Possess and transport (limited to Category 2 quantities) explosives

They are also able to manufacture ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO), at the place where it will be used, without holding an explosives manufacturing licence.

The shotfiring licence does not allow the holder to use or possess fireworks, theatrical or special pyrotechnics.

When is this licence not required?

Holders of shotfiring licences issued in other States and Territories of Australia do not need a Western Australian licence.  Interstate licences are recognised under the Western Australian regulations.  There is no requirement to apply for mutual recognition of these licences to work in Western Australia as a shotfirer.

For further information on interstate shotfirers licence, refer to Mutual Recognition section.

Who can apply?

The applicant must:

  • be at least 18 years of age
  • have applied for, or hold a Western Australian dangerous goods security card, or hold a recognised security clearance
  • pass a medical assessment against the standards in Assessing Fitness to Drive – Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2016, not more than six months before the day the application is lodged
  • pass a training course with an approved training provider
  • pass the relevant offence requirements

Applications can only be made online through the Safety Regulation System (SRS).  Refer to Lodging the application for more information.

Required supporting information

Applications for a shotfirer must be accompanied by specific information. Before completing your application ensure you have high quality colour images of the following documents.

If you have recently submitted an application for a different licence type and items provided with that application are still valid, they are prepopulated by SRS for subsequent applications.  This may mean you do not have to obtain a new medical certificate etc.

The payment of fees must be by Visa or MasterCard.

Item Document details Date before lodgement date
Competency training

Statement of Attainment.

Not more than six months
Medical certificate Assessed against the standards in Assessing Fitness to Drive – Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2016 Not more than six months
Photograph

Passport quality photo

The passport photograph must be a JPEG file

Not more than six months
Relevant offence Documents detailing any conviction and/or charge pending relating to a relevant offence N/A
 

Failure to provide the required documentation will delay processing of applications. Most applications are dealt with within approximately 30 business days.

The following information may assist in obtaining the required supporting information.

Medical fitness

Dangerous goods and explosives licences medical certificate – application form - 86 Kb

Print out the dangerous goods and explosives licence medical certificate and take to your medical practitioner to complete. When making an appointment with your medical practitioner, inform them the medical assessment is for a dangerous goods licence.

Assessing Fitness to Drive - Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers is available from Austroads.

Shotfirer training

Training requirements for shotfiring licences - information sheet - 52 Kb

This information sheet outlines the training requirements for obtaining or renewing a shotfiring licence in Western Australia.

This information sheet outlines the training requirements for obtaining or renewing a shotfiring licence in Western Australia.

The information sheet lists only those training course providers that are accredited to deliver national units of competency for blasting (RIIBLA).

Relevant offence

Applicants must disclose details of any “relevant offence” for which they have been convicted, or have charges pending. A relevant offence is an offence against:

  • the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 (Act), or any regulations made under the Act
  • any law of another place that substantially corresponds to the Act or the regulations made under it.

Security clearances

Applicants must hold or have applied for a Western Australian dangerous goods security card, or hold a recognised security clearance before they can apply for an explosives driver licence.

The table below details interstate legislation where a licence or permit issued under that legislation may be recognised as a security clearance in WA.

Recognised shotfirer training course providers - list - 459 Kb

The following information sheet lists only those training course providers that are accredited to deliver national units of competency for blasting (RIIBLA).

State or Territory Legislation
New South Wales Explosives Regulations 2013
Queensland Explosives Act 1999
South Australia Explosives (Security Sensitive Substances) Regulations 2006
Tasmania Security-Sensitive Dangerous Substances Act 2005
Victoria Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2011
Northern Territory None applicable
Australian Capital Territory Dangerous Substances (Explosives) Regulations 2004 Dangerous Substances (General) Regulation 2004

 

 

Visit Security clearances for further information

Mutual recognition

Holders of dangerous goods driver licences issued in other States and Territories of Australia are deemed to be so licensed in Western Australia (WA). There is no requirement to apply for mutual recognition of your interstate licence.

However, you are not prevented from applying for mutual recognition if you wish to obtain a WA licence.

This does not apply for holders of New Zealand shotfirer licences who must apply for mutual recognition of their licences.

For information on mutual recognition refer to Applying for mutual recognition.

Application fees

The licence fee payable covers the 5-year period of the licence.

MasterCard and Visa are accepted forms of payment and the fee is payable online through the departmental submissions portal.

Go to Schedule of fees and charges for more information on licence fees.

Upgrading the licence

To upgrade your existing licence to include additional units of competency, attend a training course with an approved training provider and lodge an online application.  No fee applies.

Training requirements for shotfiring licences - information sheet - 52 Kb

This information sheet outlines the training requirements for obtaining or renewing a shotfiring licence in Western Australia.

This information sheet outlines the training requirements for obtaining or renewing a shotfiring licence in Western Australia.

Recognised shotfirer training course providers - list - 459 Kb

The following information sheet lists only those training course providers that are accredited to deliver national units of competency for blasting (RIIBLA).

The information sheet lists only those training course providers that are accredited to deliver national units of competency for blasting (RIIBLA).

Amending the licence and updating personal details

To amend your licence, or update your personal details, or provide the department with information relevant to your licence, log on to Safety Regulations System SRS. There is no fee required.

Renewing the licence

Renewal notices are sent three months prior to the licence expiry. You may apply for a renewal online after you have received a renewal notice.

Licences must be renewed prior to expiry.  If you require a licence after a licence expires, you must apply for a new one.

For more information refer to: Renewing a shotfiring licence.

Complying with a licence condition

If you are granted a licence subject to a condition requiring a review, a notification is sent six weeks prior to the review due date. To comply with the condition you must provide the documentation required by the review due date.

If you do not comply with the condition, you will be deemed unfit to perform the licensed activities on the grounds of your non-compliance with the condition and action may be taken to suspend your licence.

Applications can only be lodged online.

Lodging the application

The completed and signed application form must be accompanied by:

  • all support documents
  • the fee, payable at lodgement
    • this can be paid by credit card
    • application to be lodged online

If you have an existing SRS Ex account, Log on to SRS 
Enter your Ex-Account number and password and follow online instructions to complete your application

If you are a new user go to SRS new user
Register for an ex-Account number.

Contact details

For any enquiries please contact Dangerous Goods Licensing:
Phone: (08) 6251 2300
Email: cso@dmirs.wa.gov.au

Public Registers

The licensing regulations create public registers which require information about licence holders and licences to be publicly available.  The actual information published in each licence register depends on the licence type.

Typically the register includes:

  • Licence number
  • Licence holder
  • Conditions on licence(if any)
  • Expiry date of licence

Related information

Transporting dangerous goods in limited quantities

Applicable legislation