Company faces new chemical stockpile charges

The company, which is now in liquidation, has been accused of committing seven offences under sections 31(1) and 45 of the Act for each warehouse.

The charges are in addition to seven charges filed against Bradbury in January for alleged offences at a Campbellfield site.

The new charges allege that Bradbury failed to take all reasonable precautions to prevent a fire or explosion of dangerous goods at the three Yellowbox Drive warehouses.

WorkSafe alleges Bradbury also failed to reduce the risks associated with dangerous goods storages and failed to notify it of an excess quantity of dangerous goods at its sites.

Having exceeded the regulated fire protection quantity of dangerous goods, it is alleged the company failed to request the advice of the relevant emergency services in relation to a fire protection system and failed to have a written fire protection plan.

It is also alleged the company failed, at each site, to properly display HAZCHEM placarding and failed to keep a manifest of its dangerous goods.

The Craigieburn stockpiles were uncovered during a joint WorkSafe and Environment Protection Authority investigation into the dangerous goods storage in Melbourne's northern suburbs in January, 2019.

The matter was listed for a filing hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on April 3 2020.