AN air conditioning company has been fined $120,000 after an explosion and fire in a vehicle containing bottles of flammable gas in suburban Sydney.
The explosion happened on 17 August 2005 in the suburb of Monterey, and damaged homes, cars and showered debris across roofs and backyards.
A 64-year-old air conditioning technician was blasted unconscious, but managed to escape before flames engulfed the service vehicle. He had glass embedded in his skull, lacerations to his hands and ears requiring 20 stitches, concussion, and is suffering continuing tinnitus. He requires constant treatment for psychological injury and post-traumatic stress.
The NSW Industrial Court found the man’s employer had failed to ensure the health and safety of its workers under the OHS Act 2000.
Victoria-based Carrier Air Conditioning did not have a company policy on the quantities of compressed gases which could be carried in service vehicles. It also did not have a policy of checking compressed gas cylinders for leaks, or guidelines on how gases should be stored in service vehicles in relation to ventilation.
WorkCover NSW’s investigation of the incident concluded the explosion was caused by gas leaking from an acetylene cylinder, which was ignited by a spark from a faulty electrical circuit.
Following WorkCover’s investigation, the company failed to comply with Improvement Notices issued by the authority until September 2006.
The court concluded the company had not committed itself in a timely and appropriate fashion to removing the risk and complying with WorkCover’s requirements. It further suggested a lack of cooperation by the company to the authority’s requirements.
The company was ordered to pay moiety of the fine and costs to WorkCover NSW.
According to the authority, the case highlights the serious risks of storing flammable gases in adequately ventilated vehicles. It warns such explosive incidents not only affect employees in the long term, but could have had serious impacts on passers-by and local residents.