Western Australian Numbered Acts

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT 2005 (NO. 15 OF 2005) - SCHEDULE 1

[s. 104]

1 .         Fire Brigades Act 1942 amended

        (1)         The amendment in this clause is to the Fire Brigades Act 1942 *.

        [*         Reprint 6 as at 7 March 2003.
For subsequent amendments see Western Australian Legislation Information Tables for 2004, Table 1, p. 171 and Gazette 28 June 2005 p. 2918-19.]

        (2)         After section 34 the following section is inserted in Part VII —

“
34A.         Powers concerning persons exposed to hazardous material

        (1)         Without limiting section 34, for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2), in a hazardous material incident an authorised officer may direct a person who has been exposed to hazardous material to do all or any of the following —

            (a)         to remain in an area specified by the authorised officer for such period as is specified by the authorised officer;

            (b)         to remain quarantined from other persons for such period, and in such reasonable manner, as is specified by the authorised officer;

            (c)         to submit to decontamination procedures within such reasonable period, and in such reasonable manner, as is specified by the authorised officer.

        (2)         A direction may be given under subsection (1) for the purpose of —

            (a)         ensuring that the hazardous material is contained; or

            (b)         ensuring that the person to whom the direction is given does not pose a serious risk to the life or health of others because of the hazardous material involved.

        (3)         The Director or, in his absence, the officer or any member of the brigade who for the time being is in charge must not specify a period of more than 3 hours under subsection (1)(a) or (b) unless the chief executive officer of the Authority has given written authorisation for a longer period to be specified in relation to the person exposed to the hazardous material.

        (4)         If a person does not comply with a direction under this section, an authorised officer may do all such things as are reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with the direction, using such force as is reasonable in the circumstances.

        (5)         An authorised officer may exercise a power under this section with the help, and using the force, that is reasonable in the circumstances.

        (6)         An authorised officer may revoke a direction given under this section at any time.

        (7)         A person shall not obstruct or hinder an authorised officer in the exercise of a power under this section.

        Penalty: a fine of $50 000.

        (8)         A person given a direction under this section shall comply with the direction.

        Penalty: a fine of $50 000.

        (9)         The regulations may limit the circumstances, and regulate the manner, in which the powers conferred by this section may be exercised.

        (10)         In this section —

        “authorised officer” , in relation to a hazardous material incident, means —

            (a)         the Director or, in his absence, the officer or any member of the brigade who for the time being is in charge; and

            (b)         the chief executive officer of the Authority.

”.

Defined Terms

[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]

Defined Term         Provision(s)
association         94(1)
authorised officer         3, Sch. 1, cl. 1(2)
combat agency         3
combined local government         34(2)
court         48(5), 94(1)
cyclone area         44
direction recipient         48(2)
district emergency management committee         3
emergency         3
emergency area         3
emergency management         3
emergency management agency         3
emergency management district         3
emergency situation         3
emergency situation declaration         3
employee         91(1)
employer         91(1), 97(6)
engaging in conduct         97(1)
hazard         3
hazard management agency         3
hazard management officer         3
hazardous substance         3
information         80(6)
local emergency coordinator         3
local emergency management arrangements         41(1)
local emergency management committee         3
local government district         3
motor vehicle         100(6)
occupier         3
officer         76(1), 98(1)
official         100(6)
organisation         94(1)
owner         3
personal details         3
place         3
premises         3
prescribed emergency activity         101(1)
property         3
public authority         3
recovery         3
relevant information         72(1)
SEMC         3
specified         35(6)
State Disaster Council         3
State Emergency Coordination Group         3
State Emergency Coordinator         3
State emergency management plan         3
State emergency management policy         3
state of emergency         3
state of emergency declaration         3
state of mind         97(1)
support organisation         3
vehicle         3
volunteer         101(1)
welfare services         72(1)

By Authority: JOHN A. STRIJK, Government Printer