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General licensing information
This guide covers general information about requirements for explosives licences. For more information on how to apply for a licence or permit, follow the links below.
Explosives are classified as a dangerous good and restrictions generally apply to handling explosives throughout their entire life cycle.
In Queensland, you need a licence or permit for most explosives activities. Often, each separate activity will require its own licence or permit.
You can apply for an explosives licence or permit for:
- blasting and shotfiring
- fireworks
- importing and exporting explosives
- manufacturing explosives
- selling explosives
- driving a vehicle transporting explosives
- transporting explosives
- storing explosives (including at an arms fair)
- collecting ammunition
- specialised purposes (e.g. demolition, testing).
To obtain an explosives licence or permit, you must meet eligibility requirements, including training, safety, security and medical clearance. You’ll need to know how to use explosives safely and securely and have adequate facilities.
You may need to:
- obtain a security clearance if the licence or permit relates to security-sensitive explosives
- complete a course from a registered training organisation.
This guide explains those requirements, as well as when you need to obtain an explosives licence or permit, the types of explosives licences and permits available, and how to renew, surrender or replace an existing licence.
Licence eligibility and general obligations for explosives and fireworks
Eligibility
You're eligible for an explosives licence or permit if you:
- are an adult
- 21 years of age for an explosives driver licence
- 18 years of age for all other licences or permits
- are physically able to conduct the nominated explosives activities
- have the knowledge and training to do the work competently.
You must have a security clearance if you are applying for a licence or permit related to activities involving a security-sensitive explosive.
Who needs a licence or permit?
In Queensland, you need a licence or permit to:
- use explosives for
- blasting and shotfiring
- conducting fireworks displays
- any other specialised purpose (e.g. demolition, testing)
- import and export explosives
- manufacture explosives
- at a place of use
- in a factory
- in a mobile manufacturing unit
- sell explosives
- store explosives (other than in a government reserve)
- collect ammunition
- drive a vehicle that is licensed to transport explosives
- transport explosives.
Permits are issued for single-use, non-commercial activities related to importing and exporting explosives, and storing explosives (other than in a government reserve).
There is no fee for permits.
Appointing a responsible person
Publicly listed corporations must appoint a responsible person for explosives matters and this person must hold a security clearance (the responsible person may be a director of the corporation).
You only need to nominate the responsible person once (not with every application). If the responsible person leaves the company or no longer holds a security clearance, then the nomination must be updated.
To nominate a responsible person when submitting a new licence application, complete the applicable nominated responsible person's details on the form (E114 is not required). Note, if the company is not a listed corporation, the application may be refused.
To update or replace a nominated person in relation to an existing licence(s), contact us to complete Form E114 – Nominated responsible person.
General obligations for licence holders
All licence and permit holders have obligations under the Explosives Act 1999. Regardless of your licence or permit type, you must keep the explosives secure and use them safely.
You must also:
- notify the Explosives Inspectorate when a significant explosives incident occurs
- ensure your licence is current
- comply with the licence conditions
- use only explosives that are authorised or approved
- keep records.
Categories of licences and permits for explosives
Licence and permit categories
Explosives licences and permits are issued to a person and are categorised as corporate, partnership or individual.
Corporate licence
A corporate licence may be issued to a registered company, association or club, cooperative trading society or government agency. Licences can’t be issued to registered business names.
Partnership licence
A partnership licence may be issued to a combination of individuals, or a combination of other partnerships and corporations.
Note: Currently, partnerships should use the corporate application form.
Individual licence
An individual licence may be issued only to individual applicants.
Applying for an explosives licence or permit
To apply for a specific explosives licence or permit, see our sections for particular sectors and activities.
We can process your application within 20 working days if you complete the form correctly and provide all relevant supporting documents.
Safety and security obligations for security-sensitive explosives
Security clearances
Security clearances are required for work involving security-sensitive explosives.
The requirements apply to holders of explosives licences and permits and employees who have unsupervised access to the explosives.
Find out more about the requirements for security clearances and how to apply.
Safety and security management systems
All authority holders (prescribed under section 46 of the Explosives Regulation 2017) who have 1 or more employees who conduct activities under the authority, must have a safety and security management system (SSMS) under the Explosives Regulation 2017.
Employee definition
An employee, in relation to SSMS requirements, means any of these:
- a contractor or subcontractor
- an employee of a contractor or subcontractor
- an employee of a labour hire company who has been assigned to work in the person's business or undertaking
- an apprentice or trainee
- a student gaining work experience
- a volunteer.
However, an SSMS isn't mandatory for a prescribed individual licence or permit holder who is a sole operator working under the licence or permit.
The safety and security management system must include the following:
- A description of the holder's safety and security policy.
- Details of the organisational structure of the holder's operations, including details of the personnel responsible for performing all the functions provided for under the system.
- A system procedure for each matter stated in schedule 3, part 1 of the Explosives Regulation 2017.
- An operational procedure for each matter stated in schedule 3, part 2 of the Explosives Regulation 2017 that applies to the place or activity to which the system applies.
- A security plan that complies with section 46C.
- An emergency response plan to manage risk to the safety and health of persons and the security of explosives in an emergency event.
- A process for ongoing consultation with employees and contractors of the holder who are engaged in carrying out activities under the prescribed authority, at least once in each month, about safety and security in relation to the activities.
Your SSMS must cover every activity you conduct under the licence and be based on a risk management approach. To make the SSMS effective, you must:
- Document it.
- Communicate it to all relevant people.
- Implement it.
- Enforce it.
- Review it regularly.
Penalties apply for non-compliance.
Security plans
All prescribed authority holders must have a security plan based on section 46C of the Explosives Regulation 2017. The plan must cover all activities conducted under the licence or permit.
Your security plan should be appropriate to your circumstances. For example, a security plan for the seller of propellant powders from a shop wouldn't need the same detail as a security plan for a transporter of explosives or major explosives seller.
All security plans should be based on the following principles:
- Keep explosives secure at all times or under an appropriate person's control (i.e. someone with an explosives security clearance who has appropriate competencies and general conduct).
- Implement a documented chain of custody as explosives pass from one licence holder to another (or their representative).
- Ensure that explosives are always in the possession and control of either you or your authorised representative.
- Be able to account for explosives accurately and quickly to assist in investigations of theft, loss or stock discrepancies.
Reviewing your security plan
You must review your security plan every year, and whenever there is a change in the national counter-terrorism alert level or level of risk.
You must also review your security plan whenever you experience any of the following:
- loss of explosives or a stock discrepancy that cannot be accounted for
- unauthorised entry or attempted break-in to your explosives storage place
- theft of explosives
- explosives obtained fraudulently
- intentional damage to one of your explosives facility
- loss or theft of information about explosives
- failure to deliver a shipment by the expected delivery time.
Also consider...
Medical assessments for explosives licences
For some applications, we may require that you submit a current medical assessment.
If you already have a current medical report for using commercial vehicles with dangerous goods, you can use this as your medical assessment. Otherwise, please follow the instructions below.
The medical assessment must be conducted by a qualified medical doctor. The Explosives Inspectorate does not accept Coal Board Medicals for licence applications.
Note: A medical report remains current for 3 years from the date of the examination.
Who needs an assessment?
You must submit a completed medical assessment if you apply for the following licences:
- shotfirer licence
- explosives driver licence
- fireworks operator licence
- licence to use explosives (specialised purpose).
You also need a medical assessment if you:
- apply to have your current interstate licence recognised in Queensland
- drive mobile manufacturing units.
Obtaining a medical assessment
Step 1
Download and print these forms. You will need to take them along to your doctor's appointment.
- QF3712 Medical certificate for motor vehicle driver (or equivalent*)
- QF3195 Private and commercial vehicle driver's health assessment (or equivalent*).
*An acceptable equivalent is any assessment form issued by a government agency assessing your fitness to drive.
Both forms need to be completed by your doctor. They will retain form QF3195 for their records and give you the completed medical certificate (form QF3712).
Step 2
Complete Part 1 of the medical certificate form (QF3712) before you visit your doctor.
For Part 1 Question 3: 'a vehicle transporting dangerous goods in a receptacle with a capacity of more than 500L or 500kg' - tick yes (see below).
Step 3
Attend your medical appointment and have the doctor complete the forms in accordance with the standards for commercial vehicle drivers.
The doctor must select Commercial for Part 2 Question 6 of form F3712 (see below).
Step 4
Take a copy of your medical certificate and have it certified. Keep the original for your records and submit the certified copy with your application.
Note that we may request more information from your doctor about your physical health, or a report from a psychiatrist or psychologist about your mental health.
How to get copies of your documents certified
To get your documents certified:
- Make a good quality photocopy of each of your documents (e.g. your qualifications, statements of attainment, driver's licence, etc.).
- Take the photocopies and the originals to a Justice of the Peace (JP) or Commissioner for Declarations (CDec).
The JP or CDec will compare the documents, and certify that the photocopies are true copies of the originals.
Notification requirements of health changes
If your health changes to the extent that you no longer meet the medical standards, you must inform the Explosives Inspectorate as soon as possible.
Licence fee information for explosives and fireworks
About licence fees
All licences and authorities (excluding permits) issued under the Explosives Act 1999 (Qld) have regulatory fees attached (fee unit amounts), which are calculated for each year of the licence period. The fee unit value is reviewed annually.
However, there is no fee for explosives permits.
Most licences are issued for 1 or 5 years. Fireworks operator and contractor licences are issued for 1 or 3 years.
We may issue licences for various categories, such as a licence to import explosives (blasting explosives and distress signals). If more than 1 category applies, you would pay only the higher licence fee.
Paying for your licence
Note: We do not accept credit card payments via email or fax.
For new licence applications, payment can only be made via credit card (BPOINT) immediately following submission of your online application
For renewal or alter applications for existing licences:
- if you submit your application via email, payment is via credit card (BPOINT). A payment link will be forwarded via email after submission of a complete application
- if you submit your application via post, payment is via either:
- credit card details (included on a completed E115 – Acceptable methods of payment form (PDF, 305KB))
- cheque or money order (made out to Resources Safety and Health Queensland).
Post your application form and any attachments with your payment form to an Explosives Inspectorate office.
Obtaining refunds
We may refund fees for an application if:
- the Chief Inspector of Explosives decides not to issue the licence
- you're surrendering your licence partway through the term and the refund amount is for the unexpired part of the term (whole years).
Fees for specific licences
To see the fee amounts for specific licences, see the Information Bulletin 37 – Regulatory and security clearance fees or licensing information for particular sectors and activities.
Renew, change, replace or surrender your licence or security clearance
Renewing a licence or security clearance
We will send you a renewal notification prompting you to apply to renew your licence or security clearance. If you don't receive a renewal notification within 2 months of the due date, contact us.
You can't renew a permit, as they're used for one-off purposes.
Surrendering a licence or security clearance
Before you surrender a licence or security clearance, you must dispose of any explosives that you have under that licence safely, acceptably and legally. Contact your nearest Explosives Inspectorate office for assistance.
To surrender your licence or security clearance, complete form E217 – Voluntary surrender of licence or security clearance.
Fees for licences are refundable for any remaining whole years of the licence period. The security clearance fee is not refundable.
Once your licence is surrendered, it's illegal for you to possess explosives under the surrendered licence (though you may continue to possess explosives under a different licence).
Replacing a licence or security clearance
If your licence or security clearance is lost, destroyed or stolen, you must notify us within 7 days by phone or email.
Complete the form E218 – Duplicate of security clearance or licence to replace a licence or security clearance that has been lost, stolen, damaged or defaced.
If the licence or security clearance has been lost or stolen, you must include a statutory declaration certifying that the licence is lost or stolen.
For damaged or defaced licences, you must return the original licence or security clearance after submitting the application.
Fees and payment options
Licence fees can only be paid via credit card (BPOINT) following submission of the online form. Read more about payment of licence fees.
Application fee for duplicate or replacement licence
Application type | Fee |
---|---|
Duplicate/replacement of licence | $50.14 (excl. GST) |
Changing the details on your licence
If you currently hold a Queensland explosives licence and you wish to amend your existing licence details, contact us for the appropriate form.
Applying for mutual recognition of your interstate licence
If you already have a current licence to use explosives issued by another state or territory, you may be able to apply for an equivalent licence in Queensland.
The only licences to which this applies are those that are issued to individuals (not to partnerships or corporations).
Explosives licences that may have an equivalent licence (or combination of licences) are the:
- shotfirer licence
- explosives driver licence
- licence to use explosives (specialised purposes)
- fireworks operator licence.
All licences issued in Queensland under mutual recognition are valid for 1 year only. Your licence may be renewed if you meet all Queensland licensing requirements, including competencies.
If you allow your licence to expire, you can't apply again under mutual recognition for that licence type.
Applying for mutual recognition
Complete E200 – Application for occupational authority (including mutual recognition) and submit it online, including:
- a certified copy of the current equivalent explosives licence from the other state or territory for the licence category you're applying for under mutual recognition
- a completed statutory declaration form (PDF, 629KB). A link to this form is also included on the E200 – Application for occupational authority (mutual recognition)
- evidence of the endorsements and restrictions on the current licence held from the other state or territory
- your medical report (if applicable)
- payment of the application fee.
Note: You will require a Queensland explosives security clearance before applying for a new licence.
Also consider...
- Find out more about mutual recognition for occupational licences in Australia.
© The State of Queensland 1995–2024
- Last reviewed: 08 Sep 2021
- Last updated: 08 Sep 2021