Driver was unlicensed and some of the dangerous goods load was not labelled or appropriately restrained.
A trucking firm and its driver have been whacked with fines totalling $12,000 for dangerous goods breaches in New South Wales.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) fined G&N Costello Freight Lines $10,000 and its driver $2,000 for the unsafe transport of dangerous goods, following a compliance inspection on February 25 at Kooragang.
The EPA says a vehicle transporting flammable liquid and organic peroxide was not appropriately placarded and the driver and vehicle were not licensed to transport dangerous goods in bulk.
Furthermore, the department says transport documents were not compliant, emergency procedure guides were not carried out, some of the load was not appropriately labelled or restrained and the vehicle did not have required safety equipment and information.
“The EPA considered that the dangerous goods were being transported in an unsafe manner and the vehicle was not allowed to proceed on its journey at the time,” EPA manager Adam Gilligan says.
The EPA also fined the consignor, Trojan Fibreglass, $10,000 for unsafe transport of dangerous goods and issued official cautions to all parties.
Gilligan says “a concerned observer” tipped off the EPA about what was going on.
He has used the incident to remind the dangerous goods sector about complying with its obligations.
“The EPA urges all parties involved in the transport of dangerous goods to ensure compliance with the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods and Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2008 to ensure that the activity is carried out in a safe manner in order to minimise the risk to those involved in the transportation, the public, emergency services and the environment.”