Complying with Dangerous Goods legislation is a relatively low cost compared to the alternative
| Date: | Wednesday, 16 August 2017 |
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Transport operators are being reminded of the potential costs for not complying with Dangerous Goods legislation regarding safety equipment, including Personal Protective Equipment, placarding and emergency procedures.
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Dangerous Goods Officer Michael Wolter said on-the-spot fines for not complying could come to more than $19,500, while aggregate court-imposed fines could reach $75,000.
"In comparison, the average cost to set up a truck for a class 3 dangerous goods load is less than $400," Mr Wolter said.
"While the cumulative fines are costly, this is nothing compared to the cost if there is an incident or accident.
"Insurance companies may not pay out if there is no safety equipment and there is also the cost to the company's reputation and the impact on future business."
However, it is not just the monetary consequences of not having the appropriate safety equipment that transport companies need to keep in mind.
"If an incident results in workers or the public being injured or worse, there is no price that can be put on that," Mr Wolter said.
"While there are undoubtedly costs associated with complying with regulations, they pale in comparison to the potential costs of non-compliance."
To find out more about the equipment required when transporting dangerous goods, see Chapters 11 and 12 of the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail, Edition 7.5.
