Power station fined $170,000 over hot works fire

EnergyAustralia Yallourn Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Latrobe Valley County Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to provide and maintain a working environment that was safe and without risks to health.

The court heard that in November 2021, maintenance crews were performing hot works – including oxy cutting, welding and angle grinding – on several rusted transfer chutes in a fuel distribution house.

Before leaving for their lunch break, the workers hosed down the area, performed a visual inspection and made sure they did not smell anything burning.

However just minutes later, an alarm alerted the power station's emergency response crews to a fire in the area. Suppression deluge systems were activated and firefighters were called, taking more than an hour to contain the blaze.

No one was injured but the fire caused damage to a conveyer, surrounding chutes and roof.

WorkSafe's investigation found that one of the workers had been assigned as fire watch for the works, but it was established practice that they did not need to continue monitoring the site during breaks or at the end of the day.

The court found it was reasonably practicable for EnergyAustralia Yallourn to have provided and maintained a system of work that ensured the area was, after being wetted down, assessed using a thermal imaging camera before any break and at the end of each day.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said it was fortunate the incident hadn't been much worse.

"The fire danger at this workplace was plainly obvious, particularly given the presence of highly flammable coal and coal dust in the area where these works were being performed," Mr Jenkin said.

"While the offender had a variety of protocols in place for monitoring hot works, it is clear that they could and should have taken further steps to control this risk to workers and the surrounding community."

Control measures when undertaking hot works should include:

• Identify any potentially flammable or combustible materials in the area, such as rubbish, dust, oils, grease, rubber, plastics, or other substances that could be potential fuel sources or generate dust explosions.
• Remove any flammable or combustible material in the area. If materials cannot be removed use flame proof covers or screens, or wet the materials down before and during the work.
• Ensure the area is adequately ventilated.
• Assign a designated fire watch person to monitor the hot work environment.
• Conduct post work inspections for smouldering material prior to leaving the area. For example, before a break, at the end of a shift or at the completion of work.
• Ensure adequate firefighting equipment is available and ready for use.
• Identify and establish suitable exclusion zones for personnel and vehicles.
• Ensure employees are wearing appropriate non-flammable personal protective equipment.
• Establish and train all personnel on emergency and evacuation procedures.