Prosecutions 2005 (PDF 3269kb) - WorkSafe Victoria

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROSECUTIONS
QENOS PTY LTD
Date of offence: 8 August 2004
Date of prosecution:
Magistrate:
Plea:
19 December 2005 at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court
Her Honour Magistrate Lambden
Guilty
Qenos Pty Ltd, a licensed Major Hazard Facility located at Altona manufactured plastic products
including Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE).
On 8 August 2004, an employee of Qenos Pty Ltd identified a problem with the rotary filter on the PP
line on the mezzanine floor. The rotary filter was approximately 15 feet in diameter and was involved
in the process of extracting water and solvent (Exxsol D30), a class 3 dangerous good.
The rotary filter was sealed with a water seal and the lid sat on a nitrogen blanket. The process
involved slurry of PP being fed into the filter. The solvent was extracted and the PP powder removed
by a screw conveyor into the next process.
At about 1:00am on 8 August 2004, the employee lifted the lid on the filter and used a water hose
on the product to break the slurry because it was crusting, and prevented the solvent from being
extracted. This procedure had been used by other employees for the same purpose. After cleaning
the lid several times the employee noticed that the product flow improved.
On the last occasion the employee raised the filter lid and he saw an orange flame inside the rotary
filter in the area of the screw auger. A secondary fire occurred in the separator overflow tank on the
ground floor and another employee initiated the deluge system.
When the rotary filter lid was opened, oxygen levels rose and an audible alarm sounded in the
control room. The strip chart for the oxygen analyser showed four peaks when the lid of the filter
was lifted allowing high levels of oxygen into the system.
Employees were aware of the danger of breathing in fumes when they lifted the filter lid as they
did so from behind to minimise their risk. In this case, the employee was protected from the fire
because he was standing behind a column and away from the filter, which was engulfed by the fire.
An investigation of the incident revealed a leak on the solvent flush line leading to the rotary filter.
Employees had not been provided with any training in relation to risks to their health and safety
arising from a fire in the rotary filter. The supervisor was aware of operators lifting the lid and
aware of the risk of inhalation of fumes but was not aware of the risk of fire.
Breach: Sections 21(1) & (2)(a) and sections 21(1) & (2)(e) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985.
Result: Convicted and fined an aggregate sum of $17,500.
PROSECUTIONS 2005
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