A parliamentary question regarding worker illness at Alcoa's Wagerup refinery due to emissions exposure, and the government's response outlining departmental involvement and data collection.

AnsweredQoN 459Legislative Assembly
Asked
27 June 2001
Portfolio
State Development

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is the Minister aware that workers at Alcoa Australia’s Refinery at Wagerup have not been able to perform their normal duties for three months or more because of illness, which they claim is a result of exposure to the emissions at work?
(2) Is the Minister aware of the number of workers affected as such and the average length of time these workers have been off work?
(3) Have these workers been included in the statistical data provided to the Mines Department?
(4) Has the Department of Mines liaised with the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment on common issues requested by the standing Committee of Public Administration?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
21 August 2001
Responded by
Minister for State Development
Response time
55 days
(1) Officers from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources have been involved investigating complaints concerning the refinery emissions since 1997. (2) There are several workers who have complained of illness as a result of exposure to emissions. The period of time off work varies from short periods (days), to about three and a half years in one case. (3) Those workers who have compensation claims accepted have been included in statistical data provided to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. (4) The Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources is a member of the Working Group on Environmental / Health Issues which was convened by the Department of Environment, Water and Catchment Protection and includes the Departments of Health and Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(2) There are several workers who have complained of illness as a result of exposure to emissions. The period of time off work varies from short periods (days), to about three and a half years in one case. (3) Those workers who have compensation claims accepted have been included in statistical data provided to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. (4) The Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources is a member of the Working Group on Environmental / Health Issues which was convened by the Department of Environment, Water and Catchment Protection and includes the Departments of Health and Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(3) Those workers who have compensation claims accepted have been included in statistical data provided to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. (4) The Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources is a member of the Working Group on Environmental / Health Issues which was convened by the Department of Environment, Water and Catchment Protection and includes the Departments of Health and Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(4) The Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources is a member of the Working Group on Environmental / Health Issues which was convened by the Department of Environment, Water and Catchment Protection and includes the Departments of Health and Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.

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