❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses potential gas exposure incidents at a Rio Tinto iron ore mine near Tom Price in October 2019, with the Minister confirming two incidents affecting three employees who were assessed at Tom Price Hospital and returned to work.
AnsweredQoN 1428Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MINING — GAS
EXPOSURE — TOM PRICE
1428. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the Rio Tinto iron ore
mining facility at Tom Price.
(1) Were workers exposed to a chemical or gaseous
release at the Rio Tinto iron ore facilities at or near Tom Price in the
last month?
(2) If yes to
(1), what was the nature of the gas or chemical release?
(3) If yes to
(1), what was the nature of the exposure to workers, and how many workers were
affected?
(4) Were any of
the workers treated on site or at a medical facility as a result?
(5) If yes to
(4), how many workers received treatment, and over what duration?
(6) If yes to
(4), what was the prognosis of the patients?
EXPOSURE — TOM PRICE
1428. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the Rio Tinto iron ore
mining facility at Tom Price.
(1) Were workers exposed to a chemical or gaseous
release at the Rio Tinto iron ore facilities at or near Tom Price in the
last month?
(2) If yes to
(1), what was the nature of the gas or chemical release?
(3) If yes to
(1), what was the nature of the exposure to workers, and how many workers were
affected?
(4) Were any of
the workers treated on site or at a medical facility as a result?
(5) If yes to
(4), how many workers received treatment, and over what duration?
(6) If yes to
(4), what was the prognosis of the patients?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for the question. The Minister for Mines and Petroleum has
provided the following information.
(1) The Department
of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety was notified of two incidents
involving possible gas exposure at a mining operation near Tom Price during
October 2019.
(2)–(3) On
1 October 2019, two employees were affected by black shale gas while assessing
a work area in the pit. The employees were assessed and monitored at Tom Price
Hospital and released the same day. Both employees returned to work on full
duties the following morning.
On 17 October 2019, an employee
reported feeling the effects of gas exposure while driving out of the pit. The
worker was taken to Tom Price Hospital as a precaution.
(4)–(6) The
three employees were assessed and monitored at Tom Price Hospital on the days
of respective exposure and were released on the same day. They were not
admitted as inpatients of the hospital. The three employees have returned to
normal duties.
thank the member for the question. The Minister for Mines and Petroleum has
provided the following information.
(1) The Department
of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety was notified of two incidents
involving possible gas exposure at a mining operation near Tom Price during
October 2019.
(2)–(3) On
1 October 2019, two employees were affected by black shale gas while assessing
a work area in the pit. The employees were assessed and monitored at Tom Price
Hospital and released the same day. Both employees returned to work on full
duties the following morning.
On 17 October 2019, an employee
reported feeling the effects of gas exposure while driving out of the pit. The
worker was taken to Tom Price Hospital as a precaution.
(4)–(6) The
three employees were assessed and monitored at Tom Price Hospital on the days
of respective exposure and were released on the same day. They were not
admitted as inpatients of the hospital. The three employees have returned to
normal duties.
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