New Code of Practice to mitigate (ANE) Tanker Trailer Explosions

Published Thursday 2 Jan, 2025 by Peter Woodford

On 24 October 2022, a tanker trailer carrying Ammonium Nitrate Emulsion (ANE) caught fire and exploded approximately 150 kilometres east of Laverton. Similarly, other catastrophic incidents involving Dangerous Goods (DG) Transport Rigs have led to devastating explosions. One such event was the 2014 Charleville (QLD) explosion, which injured four firefighters, completely disintegrated two fire trucks, and caused severe damage to bridge and road infrastructure.

As a result, the Queensland State Government has actively pursued litigation to recover >$8 million in damages from the incident.

Watch this Case Study Video from the Department of Energy Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS WA), which clearly illustrates the root cause of an explosion due to overheating of wheels and tyres, leading to wheel-end fires.

As a result, DMP (Department of Mines and Petroleum) WA WorkSafe has introduced a new Code of Practice recommending the use of Tyre Monitoring Systems to track wheel-end and tyre temperatures and pressures, helping to prevent fires and potential explosions. You can access the new Code of Practice via the link below.

Additionally, a B-double combination carrying Ammonium Nitrate Emulsion (ANE) collided with another vehicle on the Bruce Highway near Bororen, veered off the road, caught fire, and eventually exploded after burning for some time. The explosion created a 20m-wide, 3m-deep crater, severely damaging the highway, which remained closed for four days for repairs. The blast also caused structural damage to homes several kilometres away, affecting doors, windows, and roofs.

Following this incident, Queensland Resources Safety and Health and the Explosives Inspectorate issued Alert No.117 V 1 | 10 October 2024, emphasising the importance of Tyre Monitoring Systems (TMSystems) to detect overheating and prevent similar disasters.

LSM TyreGuard® TMSystems® and FSM® Fleet Safety Manager + Tracking Telematics Systems are proven solutions for managing the safety demands of Heavy DG Transport, both on-road and off-road across Australia, effectively mitigating tyre and wheel-end risks.

For more information, please see the below links or contact us.

LSM (Life - Saving - Mitigation) Technologies that enhances Workplace OH&S + Equipment Damage Control + Productivity.

WA WorkSafe- DG / AN Code of Practice