❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for the Environment and Heritage regarding alleged non-compliance of Kalgoorlie Cement Works (KCW) with DEP orders related to spraying diesel/engine oil, citing a video as evidence. The Minister acknowledges the investigation of the matter.
AnsweredQoN 407Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a video clip dated February 7 2003 which clearly shows a worker spraying diesel/engine oil aerosol solution into moulds at the Kalgoorlie Cement Works (KCW) in Oberthur Street, Kalgoorlie. I refer also to a letter dated April 29 2002 from the Minister for the Environment, your reference 10389, in which I was assured that the DEP would be monitoring the premises to ensure that this practice had been discontinued -
(1) Does the Minister acknowledge that this video provides clear evidence for non-compliance with DEP orders?
(2) Does the Minister acknowledge that this practice presents a health hazard to the worker concerned and any others exposed to spray drift?
(3) Given the apparent failure of the DEP to enforce its order against KCW, what action will the Minister take to ensure the DEP upholds its responsibilities to the workers and nearby residents?
(4) Will the Minister undertake prosecution of KCW given the obvious disregard of the proprietor to DEP orders?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(1) Does the Minister acknowledge that this video provides clear evidence for non-compliance with DEP orders?
(2) Does the Minister acknowledge that this practice presents a health hazard to the worker concerned and any others exposed to spray drift?
(3) Given the apparent failure of the DEP to enforce its order against KCW, what action will the Minister take to ensure the DEP upholds its responsibilities to the workers and nearby residents?
(4) Will the Minister undertake prosecution of KCW given the obvious disregard of the proprietor to DEP orders?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 March 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
15 days
The DEP advises that while the video clip shows the presence of aerosols, it is not clear that there is non-compliance of DEP’s directives. However, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage can assure you that this and other matters raised by several video clips provided to the DEP by the complainant are being investigated. (2) As this is an occupational safety and health issue, it has been referred to Worksafe by the DEP. (3) The DEP continues to undertake regular inspections of the site and respond to complaints from residents. To date complaints have only been received from one address. The DEP has contacted other adjacent neighbours to the KCW. Of the three other residents contacted, none have had complaints about the operations at KCW. (4) The DEP will undertake appropriate enforcement action in investigating these complaints. Enforcement includes issuing Environmental Field Notices, directions to change practices or prosecution. (5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
(2) As this is an occupational safety and health issue, it has been referred to Worksafe by the DEP. (3) The DEP continues to undertake regular inspections of the site and respond to complaints from residents. To date complaints have only been received from one address. The DEP has contacted other adjacent neighbours to the KCW. Of the three other residents contacted, none have had complaints about the operations at KCW. (4) The DEP will undertake appropriate enforcement action in investigating these complaints. Enforcement includes issuing Environmental Field Notices, directions to change practices or prosecution. (5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
(3) The DEP continues to undertake regular inspections of the site and respond to complaints from residents. To date complaints have only been received from one address. The DEP has contacted other adjacent neighbours to the KCW. Of the three other residents contacted, none have had complaints about the operations at KCW. (4) The DEP will undertake appropriate enforcement action in investigating these complaints. Enforcement includes issuing Environmental Field Notices, directions to change practices or prosecution. (5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
(3) The DEP continues to undertake regular inspections of the site and respond to complaints from residents. To date complaints have only been received from one address. The DEP has contacted other adjacent neighbours to the KCW. Of the three other residents contacted, none have had complaints about the operations at KCW. (4) The DEP will undertake appropriate enforcement action in investigating these complaints. Enforcement includes issuing Environmental Field Notices, directions to change practices or prosecution. (5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
(4) The DEP will undertake appropriate enforcement action in investigating these complaints. Enforcement includes issuing Environmental Field Notices, directions to change practices or prosecution. (5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
(5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
(2) As this is an occupational safety and health issue, it has been referred to Worksafe by the DEP. (3) The DEP continues to undertake regular inspections of the site and respond to complaints from residents. To date complaints have only been received from one address. The DEP has contacted other adjacent neighbours to the KCW. Of the three other residents contacted, none have had complaints about the operations at KCW. (4) The DEP will undertake appropriate enforcement action in investigating these complaints. Enforcement includes issuing Environmental Field Notices, directions to change practices or prosecution. (5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
(3) The DEP continues to undertake regular inspections of the site and respond to complaints from residents. To date complaints have only been received from one address. The DEP has contacted other adjacent neighbours to the KCW. Of the three other residents contacted, none have had complaints about the operations at KCW. (4) The DEP will undertake appropriate enforcement action in investigating these complaints. Enforcement includes issuing Environmental Field Notices, directions to change practices or prosecution. (5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
(3) The DEP continues to undertake regular inspections of the site and respond to complaints from residents. To date complaints have only been received from one address. The DEP has contacted other adjacent neighbours to the KCW. Of the three other residents contacted, none have had complaints about the operations at KCW. (4) The DEP will undertake appropriate enforcement action in investigating these complaints. Enforcement includes issuing Environmental Field Notices, directions to change practices or prosecution. (5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
(4) The DEP will undertake appropriate enforcement action in investigating these complaints. Enforcement includes issuing Environmental Field Notices, directions to change practices or prosecution. (5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
(5) It has not yet been determined whether KCW disregarded DEP directions and/or what the appropriate enforcement approach should be. However, I can assure you that the recent complaints supported by the video clips will be properly investigated.
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