When is this licence required?
An explosives transport licence is required by a prime contractor to transport explosives by road, rail or water.
An explosives transport licence is issued for five years.
A person who drives a road vehicle transporting explosives must hold an explosives driver licence and may only drive for the holder of an explosives transport licence.
All drivers are required to hold a security clearance and be authorised as secure nominees.
Who is a prime contractor?
Under the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007, the prime contractor is the person who:
- is conducting a business for or involving the transport of explosives by road and undertakes to be (or is) responsible for the transport of the explosive by road
or
- undertakes to be (or is) responsible for:
- the transport of the explosive by rail, or
- the condition of a rail wagon transporting the explosive by rail
or
- is conducting a business for or involving the transport of explosives by water and undertakes to be (or is) responsible for the transport of the explosive by water.
A sub-contractor may transport explosives for a licence holder provided they meet the relevant requirements for security clearances and operate within the licence holder’s explosives management plan.
When is an explosives transport licence not required?
An explosives transport licence is not required if the:
- explosives are exempt under Schedule 7 of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 (e.g. sparklers; cartridges for safety devices or nail guns; emergency devices; ammunition)
- the prime contractor holds
- another type of explosives licence and transports explosives in accordance with that licence (e.g. shotfirer licence, fireworks contractor licence)
- an equivalent licence in another State or Territory.
Refer to Schedule 7 of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007.
Mobile processing units (MPUs) are not subject to explosives transport licensing because they are not permitted to transport explosives on a public road. A separate explosives manufacture licence is required to use MPUs for the manufacture of bulk AN-based explosives.
Recognition of interstate licences
The Western Australian explosives regulations allow for the recognition of similar explosives transport licences issued in another State or Territory of Australia. However, Resources Safety will seek assurance from the licence-issuing authority that the licence-holder’s explosives management plan adequately addresses security matters for transport operations in Western Australia.
Vehicles
The licence can apply to any number of vehicles operated by the explosives transport licence holder. However, all vehicles used in the transport of explosives must comply with the requirements of the Australian Explosives Code, 3rd edition (AEC3).
The Australian Code for the Transport of Explosives by Road and Rail, Third Edition (AEC), available from Safe Work Australia.
Although the vehicles are not required to be individually licensed for explosives transport, information will be sought on the central garaging location where the vehicles can normally be inspected.
Use of an accredited consultant
To develop the submission, it is recommended that those intending to apply for a licence engage a dangerous goods consultant accredited to prepare and submit an application. The consultant will normally complete the application form on the applicant’s behalf, but the intended licensee must sign the application.
Applications submitted without accredited consultant endorsement may take up to three months to process and a checking fee applies. Deficient submissions will take longer to process.
Refer to What is the role of accredited dangerous goods consultants? for a list of consultants.
Who can apply?
Licences are only granted to an individual, body corporate or partnership.
Individuals must be at least 21 years of age.
For more information on proof of identity go to How do I prove my identity?
Required supporting information
The completed application must be signed by the intended licensee and lodged with:
- supporting documentation, which is the original or the original certified document (where a copy is requested this does not apply)
- explosives management plan.
Refer to What is the role of accredited dangerous goods consultants? for a list of consultants.
Failure to provide the required documentation will delay processing of applications.
Application fee
Only the licence fee for the first year of the licence is to be lodged with the application. Licence fees for subsequent years will be billed annually.
A checking fee applies for new applications without accredited consultant endorsement.
The checking fees are equal to the licence fee payable with the application.
Go to Schedule of fees and charges for more information on licence fees.
Lodging the application
The completed and signed application form must be accompanied by:
- required information
- the fee
- this can be paid by credit card (details on application form)
- by cheque made payable to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
- cash payments can only be made when lodging in person.
Emailed to: cso@dmirs.wa.gov.au
Mailed to:
Dangerous Goods Licensing
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
Locked Bag 100
East Perth WA 6892
Lodged in person:
303 Sevenoaks Street (entrance via Grose Avenue)
Cannington WA 6107
Related information
Notification of changes of details
The Chief Dangerous Goods Officer must be notified within 14 days of any material changes to the details on a licence or registration.
Reporting an incident
Explosives storage licence holders are responsible for reporting accidents and incidents arising from their activities, including unexplained losses or theft.
Other guidance
Applicable legislation
Contact details
For any enquiries please contact Dangerous Goods Licensing:
Phone: (08) 6251 2300
Email: cso@dmirs.wa.gov.au