Government of Western Australia | Alcoa of Australia Limited has been fined $400,000 and ordered to pay costs of $5,536.70 after workers received burns from an uncontrolled release of caustic solution at the company’s Kwinana alumina refinery.
The group of people affected by the September 2022 incident included school students on a work experience placement at the site.
Alcoa pleaded guilty in the Rockingham Magistrate’s Court for failing to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA).
On the day of the incident, a contract worker noticed a burning smell and found a pump that was emitting smoke and debris. The contract worker notified his shift supervisor who attended the scene with other workers.
The shift supervisor checked with the refinery’s control room to see if they could bring another pump online to replace the damaged pump. A control room operator advised the supervisor they would need to change the pump within a short time frame due to potential production consequences.
The shift supervisor was aware the pump could explode if pressure built up.
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