Yesterday, EnergyAustralia Yallourn Pty Ltd faced sentencing in Latrobe Valley County Court after previously confessing guilt relating to failing to provide and maintain a working environment that was safe and devoid of health hazards. This showcases the vital role that work safety products such as Bluesafe WHS Management Systems, SWMS, and related policies play in safeguarding workplaces.
The court was informed that as recent as November 2021, maintenance teams were engaged in hot works, involving oxy cutting, welding, and angle grinding on a number of corroded transfer chutes in a fuel distribution structure.
Before enjoying their lunch break, workers rinsed the area, executed a visual inspection, and verified they couldn’t detect any burning odours. However, within minutes an alarm alerted the power station’s emergency response personnel of a fire in the vicinity. Fire suppression deluge systems were initiated, with firefighters being summoned who required over an hour to control the flames.
Although no injuries occurred, significant damage was inflicted on a conveyer, adjoining chutes, and the roof.
A probe by WorkSafe revealed that one worker held the designated role of fire watch for the tasks, but it was conventional practice not to continue supervising the site during breaks or after completion of the day’s work.
The court concluded that creating and maintaining a system that ensured an assessment with a thermal imaging camera of the wetted down area before any pause and concluding each workday was reasonably feasible for EnergyAustralia Yallourn.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin, expressed relief that the incident had not been graver. He emphasised the existent fire risks at the worksite were blatantly evident, especially considering the provision of highly flammable coal and coal dust near the performed tasks.
Jenkin further noted, “While the guilty party did have assorted protocols for monitoring hot works, it is indisputable that more extensive steps could and should have been taken to manage this risk to employees and the neighbouring community.”
Control measures for conducting hot works ought to include work safety products like a comprehensive Bluesafe SWMS to mitigate hazards.
For more details:
Email: media@worksafe.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0438 786 968
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Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2025-03/power-station-fined-170000-over-hot-works-fire