Change of Plan title from State Hazard Plan - Hazardous Materials Emergencies (HAZMAT) to State Hazard Plan - HAZMAT.

This State Hazard Plan is commonly abbreviated within the suite of EM documents to State Hazard Plan – HAZMAT.

Removing the term ‘hazardous materials’ from the title of the State Hazard Plan has been proposed to reduce confusion between the definition of a ‘hazardous substance’ within the Emergency Management Act 2005 and the definition of ‘hazardous materials’ within the Fire Brigades Act 1942.

Hostile Act

This review reflects a hostile act being prescribed as a hazard in March 2020.

Included in the Emergency Management Regulations 2006 definition of a hostile act is:

‘an event or situation in which an explosive substance or hazardous substance is used to cause:

• loss of life, prejudice to the safety, or harm to the health, of persons or animals; or
• unlawful destruction of, or damage to, property or any part of the environment’.

(See EM Regulations 14a (2) for full definition or refer to Appendix B of this State Hazard Plan).

This comprehensive review has resulted in the removal of arrangements for a chemical, biological and radiation (CBR) emergency from the draft State Hazard Plan - HAZMAT. The current plan describes a CBR emergency as a ‘hostile act or event, the intention of which is to kill, maim, sicken or prevent society from continuing with normal daily business’.

The draft State Hazard Plan - HAZMAT retains reference to arrangements between DFES and WA Police Force where the response includes multiple hazards (eg a HAZMAT emergency and hostile act).

The arrangements for the deliberate use of a hazardous substance for a hostile act (as defined in the EM Regulations) are to be included in the SHP – Hostile Act. DFES will continue to provide a HAZMAT (chemical, radiological or other substance) capability to hostile act incidents managed by the WA Police Force.

Removal of Annex A (Radiation Escape from a Nuclear Powered Warship and Annex B (Space Re-entry Debris) as annexes from this Plan

The WA Police Force is the HMA for the hazards of Radiation Escape from a Nuclear Powered Warship and Space Re-entry Debris. The arrangements within these Annexes and review schedules are separate to a HAZMAT emergency and are maintained by the WA Police.

It is proposed that the current annexes contained within State Hazard Plan HAZMAT are to become stand-alone State Hazard Plans. The WA Police Force will remain as the responsible agency for the development, maintenance and review of these plans.

Removal of Appendix G (Notification), Appendix H (HAZMAT/CBR Handover Briefing) and Appendix I (HAZMAT Response Functions by Agency)

• The information provided in Appendix G and Appendix H is provided within operational procedures.
• The information within Appendix I is detailed within the roles and responsibilities section of this State Hazard Plan.

Additional roles and responsibilities

• Prevention, preparedness and recovery roles added to Appendix C.
• Inclusion of roles and responsibilities relevant to a HAZMAT emergency previously outlined in Appendix D added to Appendix C.

Statement of fact amendments

• Accessibility redesign
• Updating agency names
• Updating related legislation, regulation and other documents
• Removal of duplication with other State Emergency Management documents.
• Other amendments to simplify language and improve readability.

Please note: Due to the extent of amendments in this draft SHP, a copy of the Plan with a markup of changes has not been provided.