On Sunday (9-11-08) at 11:23am Hismelt had a massive explosion of gases and coal dust, apparently from the emergency relief valves or pressure relief valves (whichever you prefer to call them).
This explosion was heard and felt throughout Kwinana, Rockingham and parts of Cockburn, The subsequent black mushroom cloud over Kwinana industry could be seen from a great distance.
By 11:26am my phones were going off, people from as far as Wellard, Parmelia, Rockingham ringing to tell me of the explosion and/or try and find out what was going on. Some workers from the strip also rang as they weren't sure what was going on. At first I thought it must have been BP Refinery, so went down to the strip and checked with Security and BP and Wesfarmers LPG and determined it came from Hismelt direction. Security at Hismelt confirmed it was an explosion, flames and cloud of smoke from the plant.
It was confirmed that the Kwinana Industries Mutual Aid (KIMA) emergency notification system was not used... ie. Each Kwinana Industry has at least one two way radio tuned to the emergency KIMA channel, in the event of an incident such as this industry is meant to notify each other via this emergency radio system.
It was also confirmed that the incident was not recorded on the emergency community information hot line # 1300 304 346 until over 24 hrs after the incident. So the community like those in surrounding industries where also kept in the dark.
This happens just about everytime something goes wrong in Kwinana Industry, the emergency communication systems fail, but as happened last time Kwinana Industry will probably attempt to shift the focus back to the community reps that are airing the concerns.
As a part of Hismelt's license it is required to report incidents to the DEC - This incident was not reported to the DEC by Hismelt, the community reported the incident to the DEC on Monday morning and the DEC had not been contacted by Hismelt.
It is my belief (feel free to correct me if I am wrong) That Hismelt is required to report incidents to the DOCEP - This incident was not reported to the DOCEP by Hismelt again the community reported the incident to DOCEP.
Will this company be held accountable for the above probable breaches - Probably Not - Why? Because it is another multinational mining giant that seems to me to be above our law.
Does this make you feel comfortable that Kwinana Industry is keeping you informed and safe? What will happen when the Big One occurs? I suggest it would be absolute chaos and no-one will know what is going on.
Is it really to much to ask for an emergency communication system that works and is used? Or is it easier for Kwinana Industry to once again play divide and conquer tactics and claim it is only a minority of the community that are affected/concerned?
This explosion was heard and felt throughout Kwinana, Rockingham and parts of Cockburn, The subsequent black mushroom cloud over Kwinana industry could be seen from a great distance.
By 11:26am my phones were going off, people from as far as Wellard, Parmelia, Rockingham ringing to tell me of the explosion and/or try and find out what was going on. Some workers from the strip also rang as they weren't sure what was going on. At first I thought it must have been BP Refinery, so went down to the strip and checked with Security and BP and Wesfarmers LPG and determined it came from Hismelt direction. Security at Hismelt confirmed it was an explosion, flames and cloud of smoke from the plant.
It was confirmed that the Kwinana Industries Mutual Aid (KIMA) emergency notification system was not used... ie. Each Kwinana Industry has at least one two way radio tuned to the emergency KIMA channel, in the event of an incident such as this industry is meant to notify each other via this emergency radio system.
It was also confirmed that the incident was not recorded on the emergency community information hot line # 1300 304 346 until over 24 hrs after the incident. So the community like those in surrounding industries where also kept in the dark.
This happens just about everytime something goes wrong in Kwinana Industry, the emergency communication systems fail, but as happened last time Kwinana Industry will probably attempt to shift the focus back to the community reps that are airing the concerns.
As a part of Hismelt's license it is required to report incidents to the DEC - This incident was not reported to the DEC by Hismelt, the community reported the incident to the DEC on Monday morning and the DEC had not been contacted by Hismelt.
It is my belief (feel free to correct me if I am wrong) That Hismelt is required to report incidents to the DOCEP - This incident was not reported to the DOCEP by Hismelt again the community reported the incident to DOCEP.
Will this company be held accountable for the above probable breaches - Probably Not - Why? Because it is another multinational mining giant that seems to me to be above our law.
Does this make you feel comfortable that Kwinana Industry is keeping you informed and safe? What will happen when the Big One occurs? I suggest it would be absolute chaos and no-one will know what is going on.
Is it really to much to ask for an emergency communication system that works and is used? Or is it easier for Kwinana Industry to once again play divide and conquer tactics and claim it is only a minority of the community that are affected/concerned?
Update 14-11-08: Paragraphs 7,8 and 9 have been changed slightly due to a request from Kwinana Industry. Kwinana Industry claims Hismelt did report the incident to the DEC and that they are not required to report incidents to DOCEP. For now we will have to agree to disagree on those opinions because it is still my belief that the community actually reported the incident to the DEC first thing Monday morning and until then the DEC knew nothing of it. It is also my belief that industries that come under the mines act regulations are required to report to DOCEP
3 comments:
I witnessed this incident, whilst swimming with my dog at the Kwinana Dog Beach, this was no small explosion, only minutes before this incident at least one small child was exercising/swimming a small but lively pony,about 11.2 to 12 hands, with luckily a very capable young girl rider, other youngsters had horses, quite apart from the danger to workers, even the quietest of Horses or ponies could have been "spooked" by this explosion,.
I am no weekend whinger, just a respectable grandparent, with experience of Children, Grandchildren, ponies, horses, Industry and explosives, plus a healthy respect for all of the above.
It is atrocious and dangerous, that such Sundays Explosive incident, are accepted and sniggerer'd at by the incompetants in Government and Industry, as they laugh up their collective sleeves at caring Society,quite apart from Steve's comments, such as to the potential "big one", if or when such a catastrophe occurs, Society can be assured that the same collective Criminally Negligent, that may have caused such an occurrance, by prior Neglect or burocratic snivelling, will still be in power and thus able to cover their tracks as to potential harm to citizens and workers.
Whats new? with Perth having the highest incidence of child Leukemia in the Nation, Kwinana having the highest incidence of Cancer in the Nation, "Gallop" ing Western Australian Breast cancer uncontrollable and escalating wildly, they are already in place and neglecting to inform the Public as to why their families are so afflicted, or why we have the fullest Child Leukemia Ward in the Nation.
How long will you be apathetic, after such, has effected one of your loved ones?
Yank President Bush and Prime Minister Howard "coined the phrase", "Collateral Damage", The Concise English dictionary ought to determine the meaning of "Collateral Damage", as "CRIMINAL KILLING AND MAIMING OF CIVILIAN CHILDREN",.
The explosion on Sunday was very visible, loud and spectacular, the insiduous carcinogenic's, pesticides, heavy metals, vapours, gasses, in our air and waters, are silent and sinister, slow maybe, but sure, this generation, or the next, and/or after three generations, will reap the Corrupts Legacy, as will their own.
The time spent in regard to the so called Emergency Communication System,different stories spun instead of giving the truth.The community are fed up with the cat and mouse games that have been going on.
Reports have not been made to the appropiate departments in relation to incidents occurring, to which there have been many.The black smoke and flame made it clear Hismelt were in trouble.
It took till Tuesday before anything went onto the hotline, we believe it only happened then because questions were still being asked. As for it only being a minority of the community that are concerned, how wrong they are. If industry believe that profits come before safety for workers,family and community they had better thing again.
It's all very well for Kwinana Industry to make requests, when will communities rights be taken into consideration?
When we rang the DEC they had no knowledge of any incident occurring Sunday.It's time the cover ups stopped.
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