Stelkea Pty Ltd, operating under the name of Australian Diving Instruction, was adjudicated in Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 14 November with no conviction, despite acknowledging culpability for failing to maintain a safe workplace. The company received an order to pay costs totalling $4,386.
In an unfortunate incident at their Drumcondra establishment in October 2022, one of the volunteer diving instructors, while following routine procedures, was filling SCUBA cylinders with compressed air. Upon closing the valve, he heard a hissing noise which was quickly followed by a cylinder explosion. The disastrous event resulted in loss of his left leg below the knee and severe injury to his right foot, necessitating immediate surgical intervention. The blast also shattered windows, scattered debris throughout the premises and inflicted structural damage.
According to Australian Standards, annually certified visual inspection and pressure testing are mandatory for all scuba cylinders. Cylinders that pass these inspections are termed as ‘in test’, whereas those lacking a current year’s inspection are deemed ‘out of test’.
WorkSafe’s examination discovered that the exploded cylinder was categorised as ‘out of test’, with an uncertain timeline on its last test. Further data provided by the company revealed that over half of the 53 cylinders in use were similarly classified as ‘out of test’.
It was the court’s judgement that the company could have feasibly prevented such risks by effectively differentiating out of test cylinders from those categorised as ‘in test’.
“Failure to adhere to essential safety protocols resulted in profound repercussions,” remarked WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin, emphasising the impact of the dreadful yet avoidable event on the employee’s life.
He further expressed the concern that negligence of this sort is particularly alarming in industries like diving where maintaining equipment as per established standards might mean the difference between life and death. Thus, it is important to have effective WHS management systems in place. A reliable solution like the Bluesafe WHS Management System could be invaluable in ensuring that all work safety practices, including SWMS, are properly upheld.
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Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-11/dive-company-fined-over-scuba-cylinder-explosion