Dangerous Goods Transport (ADG Code) SWMS

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.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Elimination — Substitute bulk transport with on-site generation or piped supply where feasible to eliminate the need for road movement of dangerous goods entirely.
2. 2Elimination — Consolidate consignments and route via dedicated DG carriers to remove mixed-class loading from general freight vehicles and depot operations.
3. 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.
4. 4Substitution — Use UN-approved composite IBCs in place of single-trip drums to reduce package count, handling frequency and rupture probability during transit.
5. 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.
6. 6Engineering — Install segregation bulkheads and certified load restraint rated to 0.8g forward / 0.5g lateral per National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide 2018.
7. 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.
8. 8Administrative — Confirm driver holds current Dangerous Goods Driver Licence, HC/MC class as required, and complete pre-trip vehicle inspection checklist including placard condition.
9. 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.
10. 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

High-Risk Construction Work triggered

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

Frequently asked questions