❓ A parliamentary question addresses a fatal accident at a BHP Billiton site, inquiring about changes to safety procedures and potential compromises to safety. The Minister's response indicates an investigation is underway.
AnsweredQoN 540Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the fatal accident that occurred at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site at approximately 11.40 pm on Saturday, 1 May 2004 involving Cory Bentley, and ask - (1) Is the minister aware that some time prior to December 2003 BHP Billiton changed its procedure to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? (2) Is the minister aware that this was done to achieve a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the time taken to clean the chutes? (3) Will the minister order the department to investigate whether this new procedure compromised the safety isolation procedures established after the previous fatality at the gate in the transfer chute a number of years ago? (4) Will the minister order the department to investigate or authorise C shift to develop a strategy to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? Hon KEN TRAVERS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(1) Is the minister aware that some time prior to December 2003 BHP Billiton changed its procedure to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? (2) Is the minister aware that this was done to achieve a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the time taken to clean the chutes? (3) Will the minister order the department to investigate whether this new procedure compromised the safety isolation procedures established after the previous fatality at the gate in the transfer chute a number of years ago? (4) Will the minister order the department to investigate or authorise C shift to develop a strategy to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(2) Is the minister aware that this was done to achieve a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the time taken to clean the chutes? (3) Will the minister order the department to investigate whether this new procedure compromised the safety isolation procedures established after the previous fatality at the gate in the transfer chute a number of years ago? (4) Will the minister order the department to investigate or authorise C shift to develop a strategy to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(3) Will the minister order the department to investigate whether this new procedure compromised the safety isolation procedures established after the previous fatality at the gate in the transfer chute a number of years ago? (4) Will the minister order the department to investigate or authorise C shift to develop a strategy to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(4) Will the minister order the department to investigate or authorise C shift to develop a strategy to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(1) Is the minister aware that some time prior to December 2003 BHP Billiton changed its procedure to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? (2) Is the minister aware that this was done to achieve a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the time taken to clean the chutes? (3) Will the minister order the department to investigate whether this new procedure compromised the safety isolation procedures established after the previous fatality at the gate in the transfer chute a number of years ago? (4) Will the minister order the department to investigate or authorise C shift to develop a strategy to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(2) Is the minister aware that this was done to achieve a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the time taken to clean the chutes? (3) Will the minister order the department to investigate whether this new procedure compromised the safety isolation procedures established after the previous fatality at the gate in the transfer chute a number of years ago? (4) Will the minister order the department to investigate or authorise C shift to develop a strategy to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(3) Will the minister order the department to investigate whether this new procedure compromised the safety isolation procedures established after the previous fatality at the gate in the transfer chute a number of years ago? (4) Will the minister order the department to investigate or authorise C shift to develop a strategy to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(4) Will the minister order the department to investigate or authorise C shift to develop a strategy to avoid the need to isolate chutes during cleaning and maintenance? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised - (1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(1) An inquiry by the department revealed that last year management at the BHP Billiton Nelson Point site carried out a risk assessment to determine whether the chutes could be hosed down with water, using different isolation techniques. As a result of this review, a recommendation was made that a procedure for the cleaning of chutes using a water hose be developed to allow the cleaning of some chutes without isolating the belt conveyors, but using additional precautions. No procedure has yet been developed. (2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(2) The recommendation has not been implemented. (3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(3) The investigating inspectors are carrying out a review of the current and past isolation procedures, as part of the investigation into the fatal accident. (4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
(4) This is being looked into as part of the fatal accident investigation.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.