Starting on 26 November 2022, new Dangerous Goods (DG) (Storage and Handling) Regulations will be coming into effect in Victoria, Australia. The regulations have been updated to improve compliance and better align with the state’s occupational health and safety legislation. An independent review was conducted to review the DG Act 1985 and associated regulations following two catastrophic fires in 2018 and 2019, caused by the illegal stockpiling of chemical waste. The fires caused significant environmental contamination and resulted in clean-up costs of more than $100 million.
What are the DG Storage and Handling Regulations?
The DG Storage and Handling Regulations are made under the DG Act 1985 and set out the legal duties for manufacturers and suppliers of DGs and for occupiers of premises where DGs are stored or handled. The Regulations ensure the health and safety of people, property and the environment in the manufacture, storage, transfer, use, handling, sale and disposal of DGs. The new regulations replace the DG (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2012, which expire on 27 November 2022.
What are the key updates to the Regulations?
Most of the changes in the Storage and Handling Regulations have been made to modernise and use simpler language. As part of those improvements, a number of definitions under Regulation 5 have been updated as well.
Some of the notable updates to Regulations include:
- Regulation 38 for the clearing of decommissioned receptacles, which provides greater clarity around requirements for clearing these receptacles.
- Regulation 15 concerning marking and labelling has been updated to reflect current modern practices surrounding inner packaging being labelled in accordance with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) or the Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Regulations 2018.
Where can I get further details?
Full details of the changes to the Storage and Handling Regulations can be found on the Engage Victoria website. Here are some more links to helpful documents on the Victorian Government website: