New safety regulations to prevent tyre fire explosions during transport of ammonium nitrate take effect

Jamie Wade
By Jamie Wade on April 2, 2025
Safety, Occupational Health, Safety Training, Incident Reporting, Emergency Response, ESG, Regulatory Adherence, Legislative Updates, Workforce, Training and Development, Risk, Risk Assessment, Risk Mitigation
Australia, Western Australia, Goldfields-Esperance
Aluminium/Bauxite, Industrial Minerals

Transport operators handling ammonium nitrate explosion risk goods in Western Australia are now required to comply with new safety regulations designed to prevent tyre fire incidents, following legislative amendments set to come into effect on 18 April 2025.

The changes to the Dangerous Goods Safety (Road and Rail Transport of Non-explosives) Regulations 2007 support the implementation of a newly approved Code of Practice—Minimising the risk of tyre fires when transporting ammonium nitrate explosion risk goods—developed by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS).

The move follows a 2022 incident in which a road tanker carrying ammonium nitrate emulsion (ANE) exploded on the Great Central Road, east of Laverton. A subsequent investigation led to 16 safety recommendations, prompting the department to create the new code and draft legislation mandating its use.

Approved under Section 20 of the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004, the Code addresses specific fire risks associated with transporting ammonium nitrate—risks that were not covered in existing national guidelines.

New requirements for contractors, drivers and transport companies

The Code and accompanying regulatory amendments introduce new duties for contractors, owners, and drivers of vehicles transporting ammonium nitrate products such as:

  • Ammonium nitrate (UN 1942 and UN 2067)

  • Ammonium nitrate emulsion, suspension or gel (UN 3375)

  • Ammonium nitrate, liquid (hot concentrated solution) (UN 2426)

Key changes include:

  • Mandatory additional fire fighting equipment: Vehicles must now be equipped with extra fire suppression tools beyond what is already required under the Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code.

  • Driver instruction and training: All drivers transporting placard loads of AN explosion risk goods must be trained in the use of the new equipment and safety protocols, as outlined in the Code’s Section 3.

  • Temperature monitoring equipment: Vehicles must be fitted with equipment to monitor the temperature of tyres and wheel hubs, with records retained for at least three months post-delivery. Drivers must be able to produce these records upon request.

New regulatory clauses

The updated Transport Regulations include:

  • Regulation 4A: Defines "ammonium nitrate explosion risk goods" in alignment with the new Code.

  • Regulation 14A: Mandates instruction and training for those transporting such goods.

  • Regulations 163–165: Require installation and maintenance of additional fire fighting equipment.

  • Regulation 170A: Introduces strict temperature monitoring obligations for drivers.

Industry response and implications

The new Code is expected to have a significant impact across WA’s logistics and mining support sectors, particularly in the goldfields, Pilbara, and South West regions, where ammonium nitrate is widely used in explosives for blasting operations.

Compliance will demand updated equipment, comprehensive staff training programs, and new operational procedures to meet record-keeping requirements. Prime contractors and transport companies are urged to act before the 18 April deadline to avoid penalties and ensure safe handling of explosive materials.

The full Code and legislative amendments are available from the WA Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

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