Darwin company and worker facing charges after refuelling fireball incident

NT WorkSafe has brought charges against a Darwin garden maintenance company, as well as one of its employees, following a refuelling incident that led to a worker sustaining severe burn injuries and the vehicle involved being written off.

“In October 2022, two workers were refuelling a work vehicle. One worker was pouring fuel using a jerry can, while the other worker held a funnel to the vehicle’s fuel tank,” NT WorkSafe said.

NT WorkSafe will “allege that a third worker approached the two workers while smoking a cigarette. He then proceeded to light another cigarette while standing beside the two workers refuelling. This resulted in the fuel igniting, causing a fireball.”

The company has been accused of two violations of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (the Act), while the employee is facing a single charge under Section 32 of the Act for failing to fulfil his responsibilities as a worker as outlined in Section 28.

The case is scheduled for a mention at a Darwin court next month.

First published here.