Orica Learns from Safety Breach

24th March, 2000

In the Melbourne Magistrates Court last week, Orica pleaded guilty to four charges brought by WorkCover under the Occupational Health and Safety and Dangerous Goods Acts. The company was today convicted and fined $35,000 for the offences. The charges related to breaches that occurred at the Deer Park site in Melbourne’s west.

Orica Deer Park General Manager, Graham Bird, said "We’re extremely sorry that these breaches have occurred, but we have used the learning to further strengthen our safety systems to prevent a recurrence."

"Safety is the number one priority for every Orica employee and we are committed to providing a safe workplace and a safe environment for the local community. While we pride ourselves on being a leader in safety performance in Australia, these breaches clearly show that we must improve further" (See Workplace and Community Safety at Orica overleaf).

Dr Bird confirmed that the WorkCover issues had either been rectified or were in the process of being rectified.

"Since 1998, we have already spent over $1 million on upgrading the site safety systems and an additional $2 million has been committed to further improvements over the next 12 months."

Orica Deer Park will report progress of its safety improvement program to all relevant authorities, and to the community in its annual Safety, Health and Environment Report which has been distributed for the past decade.

BACKGROUND

Deer Park Site

Whilst the Deer Park site was originally developed for manufacturing explosives, it now accommodates a number of different businesses in the areas of adhesives, plastics and specialty chemicals, as well as a small explosives business which manufactures sophisticated initiating systems.

The site encompasses an area of 500 hectares with approximately 20% occupied by manufacturing plant. The remaining land is largely undeveloped and provides substantial separation distance between the local community and manufacturing operations.

Deer Park Safety Systems

Deer Park site has detailed area and site emergency plans and procedures that are regularly tested and reviewed in conjunction with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and other authorities. Regular fire safety audits and drills are conducted at each of the plants and each has its own fire safety protection system.

Water services are on site and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade is located across the road from the site, enabling a quick response to any emergency situation.

Workplace and Community Safety at Orica

Orica’s 1999 safety record, as measured by injury frequency rate, is around 10 times better than the Austr alian industry average and is comparable with some of the world’s best chemical businesses.

Working under the belief that all work related injuries, illnesses and environmental incidents are preventable, Orica has a comprehensive Safety, Health and Environment Charter which is signed annually by every employee. Orica’s stated Safety Vision is ‘No injuries to anyone, ever’.

Since the early 1990s, Orica Deer Park was the first chemical site in Australia to produce an annual voluntary environmental report to the community on its operations. The company also produces a Safety, Health and Environment Report as a companion document to its Annual