What is required for explosives licences?

A key feature of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 is a focus on security. People must have a specific authority to possess explosives except for a select list of low-risk explosives widely available to the community (e.g. emergency devices, cartridges for nail guns and safety devices, sparklers and various toy fireworks, and ammunition held by holders of a firearms licence issued by the WA Police).

Individual requirements unique to an explosives licence are addressed in the licence application document.

Management of the security of explosives as well as safety is a requirement under the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 (Explosives Regulations).

Personal explosives licences are only issued to applicants in possession of a valid security clearance.  Similarly, individuals applying for explosives trading licences or persons nominated to be responsible for security management for these licences must hold a security clearance.

Accessing explosives

People with unsupervised access to explosives require a security clearance (typically a dangerous goods security card). Additionally, the card holder also requires authorisation from the explosives licence holder to have unsupervised access to the explosives.

This establishes that the employee has an operational need and the competence to have unsupervised access to explosives, and gives the person the legal status of a secure nominee.

There are templates available for authorisation of unsupervised and supervised access to explosives.

Under regulation 157(7) of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007, an explosives management plan (EMP) is required for review as part of the approval process for a licence to:

• manufacture explosives
• manufacture explosives for a mobile processing unit (MPU)
• store explosives
• transport explosives
• be a fireworks contractor.

This is in addition in addition to completing the application form and providing any supporting documentation requested in that form.

The EMP must demonstrate that risks have been adequately assessed in relation to safety, security and emergency response matters, and provide assurance that the measures in place to minimise those risks are adequate.

Where a generic EMP has been prepared, this will be satisfactory provided it is revised to take into account site-specific factors and the particular circumstances to which licence relates.

EMP must address a number of matters which are detailed in the regulations, including:

• a detailed site plan of the place drawn to scale
• emergency management plans
• incidents involving dangerous goods – preparedness and response
• training of people to comply with the regulations and the EMP
• monitoring of compliance with the EMP
• review of the EMP to ensure its effectiveness
• assessment of risks in relation to safety of people, property and the environment
• assessment of the risks of the sabotage, theft or unexplained loss of or access by unauthorised persons to any explosives possessed under the licence.

A guide and template are available below to assist with the preparation of an EMP.

All applicants for an explosives licence must disclose details in their licence application of:

• any relevant offence for which they have been convicted
• any charge of a relevant offence that is pending.

Important note: A relevant offence is an offence against:

• the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004, or any regulations made under the Act
• a law of another place that substantially corresponds to the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 or the regulations made under it
• the law of this State or another place and where an element of that law is the handling, storage or transport of explosives.