Company fined for gassed worker
A South Australian company has been fined $20,000 for an incident where a worker collapsed while cleaning an industrial degreasing tank, highlighting the dangers of working with chemicals in enclosed spaces.
Cromatec Electro-Plating, a family business based at Melrose Park, was convicted and fined $20,000 last week over an incident two years ago, in which the worker collapsed after inhaling chemical vapours.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching section 19 of the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986, failing to ensure that an employee was safe from injury and risks to health whilst at work.
Investigators found the company had failed to provide information, instruction, training and supervision on how to safely perform the task involved; and failed to provide and maintain safe systems of work.
"The use of chemicals in enclosed spaces is a deadly business," said SafeWork SA executive director, Michele Patterson.
On 22 April 2005, the 53-year-old worker was found collapsed inside the large tank due to the effects of trichloroethylene. He returned to work the next day, but was treated for acute asthma over the next 12 months.
"The aggregation of fumes is an ever-present and lethal hazard, but one that can be easily anticipated in the hazard identification and risk assessment process," said Patterson.
"There is a wealth of information and resources available from SafeWork SA, Business SA and other occupational health and safety professionals to assist in this process."
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