What is an explosive?
In general terms a substance or article is an explosive if it is classified as a Class 1 dangerous good or is listed in either of the following publications.
The Australian Code for the Transport of Explosives by Road and Rail, Third Edition (AEC), available from Safe Work Australia.
The Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code) - current edition is available from the National Transport Commission.
The formal definition is given in regulation 8 of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 and is summarised as follows:
A substance or article is an explosive for the purposes of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 if:
- it satisfies the UNTC Test 1
- it does not satisfy the UNTC Test 2
- it is declared to be an explosive by the department’s Chief Officer, or in the AEC Appendix 2:
- it is named in an entry in column (2) of the AEC Appendix 2; and
- it is classified as Class 1 in column (3); and
- it satisfies an special provisions applied to it by column (6); and
- it satisfies any criteria applied in column (12), or
- it satisfies the UNTC tests for Class 1 dangerous goods; or
- it satisfies UNTC Test 1 and
- is named or described in the ADG Code Appendix A; or
- satisfies the UNTC tests for substances or articles too dangerous to transport.
Refer to the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 and the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007.