Dangerous Goods Transport (ADG Code) SWMS
SWMS template for dangerous goods transport (adg code). Covers Class-specific DG transport, placarding, emergency info.. 8-state AU coverage, CIH-reviewed editable DOCX, available as an instant download.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Road transport of packaged and bulk dangerous goods under the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail (ADG Code 7.9) exposes drivers, loaders, consignors and the public to fire, explosion, toxic release, corrosive burns and environmental contamination. The work spans pre-trip vehicle inspection, classification verification, segregation against the ADG Part 9 incompatibility table, placarding, securing of IBCs and drums, emergency information holder preparation and driver licensing checks. Because dangerous goods loading, segregation and placarding are listed High Risk Construction Work activities under WHS Regulation 2025 r291 when carried out on a construction workplace, and because the work involves a substantial risk of injury under r34-38, a Safe Work Method Statement is mandatory before the task commences. This SWMS aligns the ADG Code, AS/NZS chemical standards and WHS duties so PCBUs, drivers and loaders can demonstrate consultation, risk control and competency before any DG movement.
Hazards identified
7 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Violent exothermic reaction, toxic gas evolution, vehicle fire, driver fatality and prosecution under ADG 9.1
Emergency responders cannot identify product, delayed neutralisation, escalated incident severity and ADG 7.3 infringement
Container rupture, spill onto carriageway, vapour cloud, vehicle rollover and Load Restraint Guide breach
Acute inhalation injury, dermal burns, ignition from static discharge and exceedance of workplace exposure standards
Primary packaging breach, pooled spill, secondary slip hazard and uncontrolled release into stormwater system
Reduced reaction time, route navigation errors, prosecution for unlicensed DG transport under ADG 7.7
Lumbar spine injury, crush injury between drum and dock, workers compensation claim and lost time
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Elimination — Substitute bulk transport with on-site generation or piped supply where feasible to eliminate the need for road movement of dangerous goods entirely.
- 2Elimination — Consolidate consignments and route via dedicated DG carriers to remove mixed-class loading from general freight vehicles and depot operations.
- 3Substitution — Replace high-hazard Class 3 PG I flammables with PG II or PG III equivalents, or downgrade concentrations below ADG Code reportable thresholds where the process tolerates.
- 4Substitution — Use UN-approved composite IBCs in place of single-trip drums to reduce package count, handling frequency and rupture probability during transit.
- 5Engineering — Fit vehicles with compliant bunded load compartments, anti-static earthing reels, AS 1940 grounding points, and ADG-compliant Emergency Information Holders mounted on driver's door.
- 6Engineering — Install segregation bulkheads and certified load restraint rated to 0.8g forward / 0.5g lateral per National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide 2018.
- 7Administrative — Verify ADG Part 9 segregation table compliance, classification, UN numbers and Packing Group on the manifest before loading; sign consignor declaration per ADG 11.
- 8Administrative — Confirm driver holds current Dangerous Goods Driver Licence, HC/MC class as required, and complete pre-trip vehicle inspection checklist including placard condition.
- 9PPE — Issue chemical splash goggles (AS/NZS 1337.1), nitrile or Viton gloves matched to product SDS, AS/NZS 4501 chemical coveralls and steel-cap boots for loading and unloading.
- 10PPE — Provide half-face respirator with appropriate ABEK cartridges (AS/NZS 1716) and emergency escape hood in cab for Class 2.3 toxic gas or Class 6.1 consignments.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Mandates classification, packaging, marking, placarding, segregation, documentation and driver licensing for all road DG movements above placard load thresholds.
Governs bonding, earthing, ignition control and bunding requirements during loading and unloading of Class 3 liquids at depots and customer sites.
Defines performance standards for restraint of DG packages and IBCs against forward, lateral and vertical acceleration during normal transit and emergency braking.
Sets PCBU duties for chemical risk assessment, SDS access, exposure control, emergency planning and worker consultation under WHS Regulation Chapter 7.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
DG transport involves loads at or above placard quantities triggering EIP, vehicle placards and consignor placarding duties under ADG Chapter 7.
Class-specific DG loads carry potential for toxic release, fire and spill demanding pre-planned emergency response per ADG Part 12 and EPG protocols.
PCBU must prepare, consult workers on, and retain the SWMS for two years (or duration of incident investigation); penalties are substantial and indexed, with the current maximum following the prevailing WHS schedule.
Who this is for
- →Dangerous goods road freight operators and depot managers
- →Licensed DG drivers running tanker and packaged loads
- →Chemical manufacturer consignors and dispatch supervisors
- →Bulk fuel and agrichemical distribution PCBUs
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX template — Microsoft Word compatible
- ✓State-specific WHS legislation schedule (NSW/VIC/QLD/SA/WA/TAS/NT/ACT)
- ✓Hazard register with risk ratings + hierarchy-of-control mapping
- ✓Worker sign-on register, pre-start checklist, and incident escalation flow
Worked example
At a regional bulk chemical depot, a dispatch supervisor runs a pre-start brief for a driver loading a rigid truck with 12 IBCs of Class 8 sulfuric acid and 4 drums of Class 5.1 calcium hypochlorite bound for two customer sites. Opening this SWMS on a tablet, the supervisor steps the driver through hazard 1 — incompatible segregation — and they cross-check the ADG Part 9 segregation table, identifying that Class 8 acids and Class 5.1 oxidisers require separation by a bulkhead or minimum 3 m, prompting reconfiguration of the load plan into two compartments. They verify placarding (hazard 2), confirming the truck displays the correct multi-load placard and that the Emergency Information Holder contains current EPGs for both UN numbers. The driver signs on, acknowledging the engineering control to apply earthing clamps before any decanting at customer sites. Mid-route, the driver detects a minor weep from an IBC valve at the first delivery; using the SWMS spill response section, they don the specified Viton gloves and goggles, deploy the spill kit from the cab, contain the leak in the bund, and call the depot to amend the consignment note. The supervisor records the field adjustment on the SWMS review log, satisfying r39 consultation and continuous review duties before the second leg proceeds.
Related legislation
- WHS Act 2011 (model)
- WHS Regulation 2025
- Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals CoP; ADG Code