Major hazard facilities (MHF)
Responsibilities for major hazard facilities
MHF occupier obligations
Safety report
Safety report assessment
Safety monitoring
Land use safety planning
Information, advice and assistance
Responsibilities for major hazard facilities
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, through its Hazardous Industries and Chemicals Branch (HICB), regulates Major Hazard Facilities (MHF) in accordance with the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001 (DGSM Act).
Responsibilities for MHF regulation include:
- providing advice and assessing the adequacy of risk assessments, safety management systems, emergency plans and safety reports; and
- investigating major accidents at MHF.
Major Hazard Facilities (MHF) are locations such as oil refineries, chemical plants and large fuel and chemical storage sites where large quantities of hazardous materials are stored, handled or processed.
In recent years, accidents involving MHF, in Australia and overseas, have resulted in numerous chemical disasters. Consequently governments, chemical industries and communities worldwide are determined to prevent further serious accidents.
In the event of a major chemical accident, the harm to life, property and the environment can be devastating.
MHF occupier obligations
The DGSM Act has been designed to protect people, property and the environment from chemical accidents. This will be achieved by applying safety obligations on everyone involved with the storage and handling of hazardous materials.
The DGSM Act regulates MHF to minimise the likelihood of accidents at these sites and to minimise adverse impacts. This is achieved by assisting the operators of such facilities (the occupier) to meet their safety obligations, which includes providing:
- a systematic risk assessment
- emergency plans and procedures
- a safety management system
- a program of induction, information, education, supervision and training for all persons at the facility
- information to, and opportunities for, consultation with the neighbouring community
- a safety report.
The Major Hazards safety team (MH safety team) within the HICB monitors and promotes the facility's compliance with these obligations through a professional review and audit process.
The MHF guidelines have been produced to assist facilities to meet their obligations.
Safety report
The legislation requires that the facility submit a safety report at least every five years, and whenever the risk associated with the facility alters significantly.
The MH safety team then conduct a safety report assessment to determine if the risk is at an acceptable level and that the obligations have been met.
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Safety report assessment
The MH safety team assess the safety report as follows:
Safety report receipt. HICB acknowledges receipt of the safety report within 10 working days. If you have not received a letter of receipt, please contact HICB.
Safety report gross deficiency check. The MH team member who has been assigned as the lead contact for your facility will read the safety report and determine if there is enough information to continue to a detailed assessment. If deficient, the facility will be contacted for more information or issued a directive to resubmit the safety report, depending on the extent of the deficiency.
Safety report detailed assessment. The MH team member who has been assigned as the lead contact for your facility will examine the report in detail. The officer will challenge whether the risk associated with the facility is as low as reasonably practicable.
Verification audit. The MH lead contact will arrange a verification audit involving a multi-agency team to confirm that the safety report reflects the operation of the facility. Other agencies may include the local council, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate, the Explosives Inspectorate, and the Department of the Environment and Resource Management (DERM), as appropriate. Questions are derived from the submitted safety report and what is observed on site.
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Safety monitoring
The MH safety team visits each gazetted facility at least once a year, and more often if warranted. Other visits and investigations are programmed for incidents, complaints and modifications, or as part of the safety report assessment process.
The occupier of a MHF must notify the department of:
- being a potential MHF (initial only)
- any major accident or near miss major accident
- any modification that may significantly alter the risk.
The major accident report number for a registered MHF is 0409121457, or contact the lead contact direct.
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Land use safety planning
Land use safety planning principles are designed to balance the advantages delivered by hazardous industry against the adverse consequences of a major accident at MHF.
Historically, the public safety consequences of major accidents at MHF have been magnified by poor location i.e. close proximity to domestic premises and other sensitive uses. This was the case in the well known disasters at Mexico City (1984, LPG), Toulouse (2001, Ammonium nitrate), Bhopal (1984, MIC) and Seveso (1976, TCP/Dioxin).
Information, advice and assistance
The MH safety team encourages open and early contact between potential and actual MHF in order to clarify expectations and achieve effective safety outcomes.
Read more frequently asked questions on major hazard facilities
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