As an accredited consultant, licence applications prepared by Atomic DG progress through the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety in about 20 working days.  Applications submitted by persons who aren’t accredited can take months.

Atomic DG specialises in licence applications on behalf of Western Australian based clients, for:

• Dangerous goods storage – for stores over 10,000L or kg of most DGs, 5000L of flammable gas, and 100,000L of combustible liquid (e.g. diesel).
• Security risk substances – for any amount of ammonium nitrate or ammonium nitrate emulsion.
• Explosives – for any amount.

Whether a licence is required or not, most DG sites need to demonstrate that they comply with DG Regulations, which means meeting Australian Standards.

Atomic DG can assess all classes of dangerous goods (except Class 7 radioactive) for compliance with applicable Australian Standards.

If the DG storage system is unusual and an Australian Standard can’t be found, then a first principles risk assessment is used.  Atomic DG facilitates stakeholder risk assessment meetings, and helps clients identify control measures to keep risk “as low as reasonably practicable”.

A written report to summarise the outcomes of the DG assessment is the key deliverable; it contains statements of compliance, as well as any actions and queries from the assessment.

When the need is identified for a new DG storage system or a modification to an existing store, Atomic DG adds value to the feasibility study, by answering questions like:

• Is there a cheaper or better alternative?
• What are the compliance costs associated with certain design decisions?
• How long does the entire assessment and licence process take?

The value of a site inspection cannot be overstated:

• When meeting a new client for the first time, or visiting an established client to understand a proposed modification, a more complete picture of the DG project is developed. Design solutions, alternative options, and project threats become readily apparent.
• Site inspections as part of the information gathering prior to a DG assessment often capture important inputs that are otherwise missed in client correspondence.
• Post commissioning reviews provide assurance that the as-built DG store was indeed constructed in line with the DG assessment inputs, and enables assessment queries & action items to be closed out.

When a Dangerous Goods Officer from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) visits a DG site, and items of non-compliance or query are identified, the site receives a remediation notice.

With Atomic DG engaged, DEMIRS often agrees to extend the remediation notice completion deadline, on the basis that the client will have expert assistance to address each of the remediation action items.

Surrounding a store of flammable liquid or gas is a hazardous zone, in which the atmosphere is likely to be an explosive mix of vapour flammable and air.

Service stations, LPG tanks, flammable liquid drum stores, paint sheds, and flammable liquid storage cabinets – these are some of the DG stores that have hazardous zones.

Atomic DG provides hazardous area drawings for common DG stores, which clients then use to exclude sources of ignition such as flames, sparks, combustion engines, and non-rated electrical equipment.

Atomic DG assists clients to identify the mandatory documents required for their particular DG store, and where requested, works with the client to generate them.

DG site plans and manifests

The manifest shows what DGs are being stored on site, and the DG site plan shows where.  These documents have specific requirements from the DG Regulations and it is important they are prepared correctly.

Emergency response plans

Effective emergency plans, apart from being required for a DG site, are one of the key factors in how well (or poorly) a site can react to a DG incident, and respond quickly to prevent it escalating.

Explosives Management Plans

Explosives Management Plans are a mandatory requirement for all explosives licence applications, and are the most important document for maintaining explosives security, and safety to people, property, and the environment.

SRS Security Plans

Sites that store or handle security risk substances (ammonium nitrate products) must have an effective SRS Security Plan in place, to maintain security of their SRS and safety to people, property, and the environment.  An SRS Security Plan is also a mandatory requirement for any licence application.

Not all DG, explosives, or SRS projects fit the “assess and licence” template.  Some may be a simple “can I do this” query, others may require effort to produce a novel “outside the square” solution.

Whatever it may be a simple phone call is all it takes to identify if Atomic DG can help, and where best to start.