Friday 12th March 2021

Safety Industry News Roundup: Friday 12th March 2021

This Friday 12th March 2021 update brings two significant enforcement actions from Australian safety regulators. CSIRO faces a $1.5 million remediation commitment following a laboratory explosion, while a NSW concrete supplier copped fines for water pollution breaches.

CSIRO to Spend $1.5 Million on Safety Improvements

In June 2017, an explosion occurred at a CSIRO laboratory when researchers heated an experiment involving sawdust at pressure using hydrogen gas in an autoclave.

The researcher involved sustained minor injuries when gas leaked from the autoclave and ignited. Building structures suffered extensive damage, propelling debris more than 20 metres into a garden area.

Comcare investigated the explosion at the Clayton laboratory. Investigators allege CSIRO breached the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act), citing failures relating to the work environment, systems of work, plant and provision of information and training.

Over the next 18 months, CSIRO will spend $1.5 million on workplace health and safety improvements after entering into an enforceable undertaking with Comcare. This commitment, dated 12th March 2021, underscores regulatory expectations around laboratory safety practices under the WHS Act.

Read the full media release on the Comcare website.

Concrete Supplier Fined $23K by EPA NSW

A concrete supplier has been fined by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for an alleged water pollution incident, plus allegedly failing to operate control equipment properly and efficiently.

Responding to community concerns over dirty water discharge from the plant, EPA officers inspected the concrete batching facility at Kincumber on 19 October 2020.

EPA officers found evidence of incorrect wastewater control during their investigation, prompting enforcement action shortly before this 12th March 2021 report.

A $15,000 penalty for alleged water pollution and an $8,000 penalty for allegedly failing to operate control equipment properly were issued by regulators.

Full details of this case, published ahead of the 12th March 2021 news cycle, appear on the EPA NSW website.

Why These 2021 Enforcement Actions Matter

Both incidents highlight recurring themes safety professionals encounter across construction, manufacturing and research settings. Regulators continue prioritising robust systems of work, proper equipment operation and transparent incident reporting throughout 2021.

For technical teams managing hazardous processes, these cases reinforce why documented safety procedures and staff training remain non-negotiable compliance requirements.

• Laboratory experiments involving pressurised gases require rigorous risk assessment protocols.
• Wastewater control equipment must operate efficiently to prevent environmental breaches.
• Enforceable undertakings often prove more costly than upfront compliance investment.

Catch up on further safety news from Friday 5th March 2021, plus later updates from Friday 19th March 2021 and Friday 26th March 2021 for ongoing regulatory developments impacting Australian workplaces.