Safety equipment

Any vehicle transporting a placard load of dangerous goods in NSW must carry safety equipment including fire extinguishers, and in some cases protective equipment such as masks and gloves.

All vehicles carrying a placard load of dangerous goods must carry

  • three double-sided reflector signals
  • fire extinguishers
  • personal protective and safety equipment

Fire extinguisher requirements

When the load contains dangerous goods packed in

  • packages, drums, overpacks or segregation devices
  • intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) where they contain any quantity of non-flammable goods
  • IBCs containing flammable goods of up to and including 10,000 litres total capacity, or containing up to and including 10,000 kilograms in total

Required extinguisher

  • 1 × 30B dry powder in the cabin, or on the rear of, or directly behind the cabin, or at the front of any trailer transporting a placard load

For non-flammable goods packed in

  • pressure drums, tubes, multiple element gas containers (MEGCs), tanks or bulk containers (solids)

Required extinguishers

  • Either of the following in the load area:
    • 1 × 60B dry powder OR
    • 2 × 30B dry powder in the load area
  • 1 × 10B dry powder mounted in the cabin, or on the rear of, or directly behind the cabin

For flammable goods packed in

  • pressure drums, tubes, MEGCs, tanks or bulk containers (solids)
  • IBCs with a total capacity greater than 10,000 litres or containing a total of more than 10,000 kilograms

Required extinguishers

  • Either of the following in the load area:
    • 2 × 60B dry powder OR
    • 1 × 80B dry powder, plus 1 × 20B foam
  • 1 × 10B dry powder mounted in the cabin or mounted on the rear of, or directly behind the cabin

Flammable goods are dangerous goods of Division 2.1, Class 3 or Class 4, or having a subsidiary risk of 2.1, 3 or 4.

For combination vehicles, these directions apply to every separate trailer transporting a placard load.

Placement of fire extinguishers

Each fire extinguisher must be mounted securely in a quick-release bracket.

  • Where only one extinguisher is required for the load area, locate it on the discharge side of a tank vehicle.
  • For other vehicles, locate it near the driver’s door or at the front of the trailer with a placard load.
  • Where two or more extinguishers are required for the load area, mount one on the near side towards the rear and one on the offside near the front.

Personal protective and safety equipment requirements

Requirements depend on the type of dangerous goods being transported. This table shows the safety equipment required for transporting each class or division of dangerous goods (X = required item).

Class/
Division
Escape breathing apparatus Gas tight goggles/ face shield Eyewash kit (d) Chem-resistant gloves Thermal gloves Chem-resistant coveralls Chem-resistant boots Torch Flame-proof torch

2.1  (a)

 

X (c)

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

2.2

 

X (c) 

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

2.3

X (b)

X

X

 

X

 

 

X

 

3 / 4

 

 

X

X

 

 

 

 

X

5.1 Solids

 

 

X

X

 

 

 

X

 

5.1 Liquids

 

X

X

X

 

X

X

X

 

5.2

 

X

X

X

 

X

X

 

X

6.1 and 8

X (b)

X

X

X

 

X

X

X

 

6.2

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

9

 

 

X

X

X (e)

 

 

X

 

 

(a) - gas detector required for unodourised LPG
(b) - short-term air supplied breathing apparatus equipment is required, unless there is no possibility of harmful vapours, gases or dusts even in an emergency
(c) - if the receptacle carries more than 500 litres or contains cryogenic liquid
(d) - an eyewash kit must be of at least 250ml capacity, filled and ready for use
(e) - if elevated temperature substance or dry ice

Equipment requirements

  • All equipment must be clean, suitable, in sound condition and ready for use.
  • Respiratory equipment for escape purposes must be carried securely, in an accessible position in the cabin. It must be provided for the driver and any passengers travelling in the vehicle.
  • Other equipment must be carried securely and in a readily accessible position on the vehicle.
  • The safety data sheet for particular substances may specify additional personal protective equipment.
Page last updated