Waste management firm sentenced following Sydney blaze

A waste management firm has received a conviction and a financial penalty of $300,000 for contravening Commonwealth work health and safety regulations, following a fire in Sydney that caused serious injuries to one of its workers.

The firm entered a guilty plea to a single charge of not fulfilling its obligations under the federal Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act).

The incident took place at the firm’s liquid waste processing site in St Marys, on 19 April 2022.

Comcare said a “worker was operating a Hazpak machine used to process hazardous wastes including aerosol cans and paint tins when flammable gases escaped. The gases were ignited by a spark from an exposed spindle on an electric motor that was not fitted with a guard.”

The worker sustained significant burns on his face and hands following the incident.

Comcare's CEO Greg Vines said the health and safety hazards present were both evident and predictable.

‘Comcare’s investigation identified failures in providing a safe system of work relating to the maintenance and operation of the machinery,’ Mr Vines said.

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