Security plan for transporting High Consequence Dangerous Goods (HCDG)

Licensing requirements for transporting HCDGs

The transport of ammonium nitrate is governed by the Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Regulations 2018 which are based on the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail (ADG Code).

The security provisions and licences associated with ammonium nitrate are covered by the Dangerous Goods (HCDG) Regulations 2016.

Drivers of HCDGs must:

• hold a HCDG transport licence and/or Dangerous Goods transport licence
  • Note drivers may also be required to hold licences and or endorsements issued by other Authorities to transport HCDGs
• be trained and licensed in the requirements of ammonium nitrate safety, security and emergency response
• assess the security risks associated with transporting HCDG, assessing the risk of:
  • theft
  • unexplained loss
  • sabotage
  • access to HCDG by an unauthorised person

What is a transport security plan

A transport security plan details how an authorised person will control the security risks during transportation.

Who is an authorised person?

An authorised person in relation to a HCDG licence is:

• the licensee
• each person named in the security plan as an authorised person with unsupervised access to HCDG
• a person who holds a HCDG permit.

When must a transport security plan be submitted?

A transport security plan must be submitted to WorkSafe with a HCDG licence application.

What to include in a transport security plan

Your security plan should address each of the following:

1. Precautions to ensure HCDG is secure for the entire journey
2. Names of all authorised persons holding a permit that authorises unsupervised access to HCDG
3. Procedures for amending the security plan by adding names of new authorised persons or removing the names of existing authorised persons
4. Procedures for instructing those who have access to, or who use or handle, HCDG on the security plan procedures
5. A designated person responsible for maintaining the security plan
6. A system for recording details and reconciling incoming and outgoing quantities of HCDG
7. The procedures for reporting any theft, attempted theft or unexplained loss, or any other security incident involving HCDG to authorities
8. Name and contact details of any sub-contractor(s)
9. The precautions in place to ensure that HCDG is only loaded from a person who is authorised to supply the HCDG and that it is delivered to a person who is authorised to be supplied with the HCDG
10. The precautions in place to ensure that if HCDG is temporarily stored during the loading or transport process, it is kept in a secure store identified in the security plan
11. The precautions in place to ensure that HCDG is transported at all times under lock and key or under constant surveillance
12. Procedures for undertaking sealing of HCDG if required by the security plan and for regular assessments of sealing procedures to monitor their effectiveness
13. The system to monitor the location of the consignment during transportation and to instruct workers in emergency procedures
14. Systems and procedures in place to record:
    • persons authorised to drive vehicles transporting HCDG by road
    • the vehicles used for transporting HCDG by road or rail on which seals can be fitted to detect entry to the vehicle
    • that HCDG is only delivered to authorised persons
    • details of consignments by road or rail including:
      • seal numbers and any changes in seals necessary for part deliveries
      • accurate weight measurement or other reconciliation of all HCDG at loading and unloading, for example, the number of bags
      • confirmation on a load-by-load basis of whether the load was delivered with all seals and locks intact
      • a system to ensure that returns of HCDG are accurately documented and appropriately accounted for
15. Protocols in place to refuse loading of any vehicle that is not included in the record of vehicles used for transporting HCDG
16. When HCDG is being transported by road, the procedures in place need to ensure that the vehicle is not left unattended unless all of the following occur:
    • the vehicle is left in a secure site
    • the HCDG is under lock and key
    • the relevant locks are sealed with numbered seals to assist in the detection of theft or attempted theft
17. When HCDG is being transported by rail, the procedures in place need to ensure that unless HCDG are under constant supervision all of the following occur:
    • they are transported in locked container units or in locked rail cars
    • all openings to the containers or cars are sealed with substantial tamper-proof seals that require forceful breakage to enter the container or car
    • consignments have a schedule whereby the location of the container or car is continually monitored for the duration of the transport
    • an authorised person is present at the dispatch and receipt of HCDG, and when containers need to be opened before they reach their destination

Pictograms for transporting ammonium nitrate DG classes