Safety spotlight on DSE after tank explosion

WorkSafe is demanding safety improvements from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) after a fuel tank explosion last year left a worker with serious burn injuries.

The April 2009 incident occurred when a 31-year-old DSE worker at the organisation’s Alexandra depot was instructed to weld a leak in a 400-litre tank used to store fuel used in controlled burning operations.

“The unsupervised worker was told the tank needed to be ready by the following day - he wasn’t told that he would need to clean the tank or remove any fuel,” Executive Director for Health and Safety Ian Forsyth said.

“When he began to weld the tank, it exploded. He suffered second degree and superficial burns to around 8% of his body, as well as other injuries from the force of the blast.”

DSE is entering into an enforceable undertaking with WorkSafe, requiring it to create a senior full-time health and safety leadership role to work across the organisation’s regional depots.