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NSW Police takes dangerous goods chain to task

Three parties fined more than $10,000 for inadequate safety measures

 

NSW Police illustrates the seriousness of dangerous goods compliance by penalising three parties in the chain for offences relating to insufficient fire and safety measures.

A heavy rigid truck pulled over in Botany, was found to be placarded at the rear but not front, while carrying five tonnes of ‘toluene diisocyanate’, a class 6.1 UN no. 2078 toxic substance.  

While the load was appropriately restrained, the fire extinguisher attached to the vehicle was empty, with two further fire extinguishers not tested since 2018 – the requirement for this task is every six months.

A mandatory personal protective equipment kit was found to be lacking appropriate equipment.


Last year a joint police/EPA dangerous goods probe also penalised three parties


“The driver showed no knowledge of the safety equipment he was required to have nor knowing his fire extinguishers were not compliant,” NSW Police explains.

“Due to the seriousness of this solution being carried, he was required to have an air-supplied short term breathing apparatus to which he did not have with him.”

The truck was grounded until appropriate safety equipment, fire extinguisher and placards were delivered.

Without going into further detail, NSW Police reports that, for the transgressions, a 22-year-old driver was fined $500, the Greenacre-registered truck company $6,000, and “the company which loaded the dangerous goods onto the truck” $4,000: a total of $10,500 for the offences.

“The Traffic Task Force will continue to monitor the transport of Dangerous Goods to ensure on-going compliance,” NSW Police adds.

 

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