Decommissioning and disposal of explosives equipment | Resources Safety & Health Queensland
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Explosives safety alert no. 26 | 20 February 2009 | Version 1

Decommissioning and disposal of explosives equipment

Investigations are ongoing and further information may be published as it becomes available. The information in this publication is what is known at the time of writing.

We issue Safety Notices to draw attention to the occurrence of a serious incident, raise awareness of risks, and prompt assessment of your existing controls.

This safety alert focuses on the obligations of persons responsible for the decommissioning or maintenance of plant and equipment used in the explosives life cycle.

Scope

The information applies to all persons responsible for the decommissioning and or disposal of plant and equipment used in the explosives life cycle.

Background

There have been incidents where explosives-related equipment was discovered at scrap yards or metal recyclers, or simply being on-sold. In several instances this has included explosives inside the equipment that pose an extreme risk to persons handling the equipment who may not be aware of the hazard. Such equipment includes magazines, mobile manufacturing vehicles, pumps, pipe work, hoses and explosives transport vehicles.

In some cases the equipment involved has contained hundreds of kilograms of high explosives and, in others, tonnes of emulsion and Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate (SSAN) products.

The photographs below show some recent incidents, one of which was in a populated area.

Issues

Explosives plant and equipment is being disposed of without being rendered free from explosives.

Explosives manufacturing plant has been disposed of with its full manufacturing capability intact.

Recommendations

  1. All plant and equipment used for explosives must be rendered free from explosives as a part of the decommissioning process before disposal of the plant and equipment.
  2. Plant and equipment used for explosives manufacturing must be decommissioned to the extent that the systems and capabilities are inoperable and cannot be reinstated.
  3. Licence holders should ensure the decommissioning and disposal processes have been included in their Safety Management System.

References

  1. Information bulletin 64 – Dangers of explosives in metal recycling
  2. Explosives Act 1999

Authorised by Chief Inspector of Explosives

Contact: Manager, Explosives Licensing , +61 7 3199 8057

Issued by Queensland Department of Mines and Energy

Safety: This information is a guide only and is issued to promote safety through experience. It is not to be taken as a statement of law and must not be construed to waive or modify any legal obligation.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RSHQ respectfully acknowledges all Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the country on which we live and work. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and commit to ongoing reconciliation. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present.