Victorian company charged over chemical fire

WorkSafe Victoria has charged Bradbury Industrial Services, a Victorian waste management company, with three offences under sections 21(2)(e) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and section 31C(1) of the Dangerous Goods Act. The charges relate to an explosion and chemical fire at a Campbellfield warehouse in April 2019, and follow 35 pre-existing charges filed in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court relating to additional chemical stockpiles at other Bradbury sites in Campbellfield and Craigieburn.

WorkSafe Victoria alleges that the company, which is now in liquidation, failed to provide workers at the Campbellfield site with the information, instruction, training and supervision needed to perform the work safely and without risks to health.

Bradbury is also accused of failing to take reasonable precautions to prevent fire or explosion at the site in circumstances where it knew that the failure would endanger the safety or health of people, property or the environment. The company also allegedly failed to take precautions to prevent fire or explosion involving dangerous goods in its ownership, control or possession.

The latest charges have been listed for a filing hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 29 April 2020.

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