WorkSafe

Contractor fined over Perth explosives cache

An experienced explosives expert Bruce William Fagan and his business, Explotise Pty Ltd, were today fined a total of $175,000 in the Armadale Magistrates Court for 12 dangerous goods offences, including unlicensed storage and failing to minimise the risks from ammunition, explosives and other dangerous goods.

In handing down the penalty, the court said there was a very real possibility of an explosion and that Mr Fagan had shown a wanton disregard for the safety of his neighbours and local community.

The dangers of working in high-heat environments

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) reminds workers to guard against the effects of extreme temperatures in work environments following a forecast of above-average temperatures this summer.

DMIRS Director Mines Safety Andrew Chaplyn said the extremes of Western Australia's climate means heat stress is a significant risk that needs to be managed across mining and exploration operations.

Mines safety message drives across WA

  • The 15th annual Mines Safety Roadshow kicks off in Kalgoorlie today
  • Roadshow will visit 11 locations across WA during October and November

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston has welcomed the annual Mines Safety Roadshow and its focus on promoting on-site risk awareness.

Hosted by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, the month-long series of roadshows starts in Kalgoorlie, before travelling across nine other Western Australian cities and towns.

Dangerous Goods Licensing is moving to Cannington

Dangerous Goods Licensing processes applications for:

  • the manufacture, storage, transport, import, export and use of explosives;
  • firework operation and event permits;
  • tank design for vehicles carrying dangerous goods; and
  • the supply, manufacture and storage of fertilisers.

From 1 April 2019, the Dangerous Goods Licensing Branch will be located at:

Customer Service Centre, Level 1
303 Sevenoaks Street (entrance on Grose Avenue)
CANNINGTON

The new postal address and phone number:

Companies fined $112,000 and $64,000 after worker suffered broken jaw at Cloudbreak mine

Rema Tip Top Material Processing (Rema) and Chichester Metals Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Fortescue Metals Group Limited (FMG) have been fined $112,000 and $64,000 respectively in Perth Magistrates Court following an incident that broke a worker’s jaw at the Cloudbreak iron ore mine in the Pilbara in September 2014.

While both companies were charged in relation to the same incident, Chichester were not charged for causing the injuries suffered as a result of the incident.

New transport safety group on track

The Dangerous Goods Rail Transport Safety Working Group will provide an overview of dangerous goods rail transport activity in WA, act as an intermediary between operators and industry regulators and provide input to assessing, accepting and reporting rail transport risk.

Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s (DMIRS) Senior Dangerous Goods Officer, Stephen Lane, said the working group leverages off the good work done by inspectors from DMIRS Dangerous Goods Safety team over the past three years.

Awards to spotlight safety in WA workplaces

This year will see the inaugural Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards hosted by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS).

The awards combine the former Work Safety Awards and the Safety and Health Resources Sector Awards to create one awards ceremony celebrating safety across Western Australian workplaces.

Nominations for the awards will be opening soon and the awards ceremony will be held in October.