❓ Hon Kate Doust questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum regarding reported asbestos exposure at Alcoa in Kwinana, seeking an investigation into potential breaches of duty of care and safety regulations. The Minister confirms an investigation is underway.
AnsweredQoN 475Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ALCOA — ASBESTOS FIBRES
475. Hon KATE DOUST to the minister
representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to recent reports of workers being unknowingly exposed to
asbestos fibres at Alcoa in Kwinana. As the minister will be aware, a
fundamental principle of occupational health and safety practice is that
workers have a right to know about workplace hazards. With this in mind —
(1) Will an investigation be undertaken to
establish how the workers were unknowingly exposed and whether —
(a) the employer has breached their duty of care;
(b) effective control strategies are in
place, including, for example, an asbestos register, a management plan and
decontamination procedures;
(c) Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations or legislation have been
breached; and
(d) employees have been provided with
appropriate information, such as the risk of contracting an asbestos-related
disease based on concentration of respirable fibres in the air, length of time
of exposure, type of fibre and size and shape of the fibres?
475. Hon KATE DOUST to the minister
representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to recent reports of workers being unknowingly exposed to
asbestos fibres at Alcoa in Kwinana. As the minister will be aware, a
fundamental principle of occupational health and safety practice is that
workers have a right to know about workplace hazards. With this in mind —
(1) Will an investigation be undertaken to
establish how the workers were unknowingly exposed and whether —
(a) the employer has breached their duty of care;
(b) effective control strategies are in
place, including, for example, an asbestos register, a management plan and
decontamination procedures;
(c) Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations or legislation have been
breached; and
(d) employees have been provided with
appropriate information, such as the risk of contracting an asbestos-related
disease based on concentration of respirable fibres in the air, length of time
of exposure, type of fibre and size and shape of the fibres?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. On
behalf of the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, I advise —
(1) The circumstances of the report are
currently under investigation by DMP mines inspectors who have visited the
site.
(a) The investigation will ascertain whether
there has been a breach of duty of care by any involved party.
(b) The investigation will include a review
of all the applicable management processes and any relevant documentation.
(c) The investigation will consider breaches
of applicable legislation.
(d) The investigation will also include the
ongoing management processes and practices for communication and education of
personnel exposed to asbestos fibrous materials.
behalf of the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, I advise —
(1) The circumstances of the report are
currently under investigation by DMP mines inspectors who have visited the
site.
(a) The investigation will ascertain whether
there has been a breach of duty of care by any involved party.
(b) The investigation will include a review
of all the applicable management processes and any relevant documentation.
(c) The investigation will consider breaches
of applicable legislation.
(d) The investigation will also include the
ongoing management processes and practices for communication and education of
personnel exposed to asbestos fibrous materials.
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