❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses an incident where a tactical response group officer was injured while testing detonators. The response details the circumstances, notifications, and subsequent safety measures implemented.
AnsweredQoN 853Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
TACTICAL RESPONSE GROUP OFFICER — INJURIES
I refer to an incident that occurred in August 2011 involving a tactical response group officer who was badly burnt in an explosion while on duty and who was hospitalised for a considerable period as a result of his injuries. (1) What were the circumstances of his injury? (2) Has WorkSafe been advised? (3) Who or what agencies have been notified of the incident? (4) Have any additional occupational health and safety measures been taken as a result? (5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER
I refer to an incident that occurred in August 2011 involving a tactical response group officer who was badly burnt in an explosion while on duty and who was hospitalised for a considerable period as a result of his injuries. (1) What were the circumstances of his injury? (2) Has WorkSafe been advised? (3) Who or what agencies have been notified of the incident? (4) Have any additional occupational health and safety measures been taken as a result? (5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(1) What were the circumstances of his injury? (2) Has WorkSafe been advised? (3) Who or what agencies have been notified of the incident? (4) Have any additional occupational health and safety measures been taken as a result? (5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(2) Has WorkSafe been advised? (3) Who or what agencies have been notified of the incident? (4) Have any additional occupational health and safety measures been taken as a result? (5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(3) Who or what agencies have been notified of the incident? (4) Have any additional occupational health and safety measures been taken as a result? (5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(4) Have any additional occupational health and safety measures been taken as a result? (5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(1) What were the circumstances of his injury? (2) Has WorkSafe been advised? (3) Who or what agencies have been notified of the incident? (4) Have any additional occupational health and safety measures been taken as a result? (5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(2) Has WorkSafe been advised? (3) Who or what agencies have been notified of the incident? (4) Have any additional occupational health and safety measures been taken as a result? (5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(3) Who or what agencies have been notified of the incident? (4) Have any additional occupational health and safety measures been taken as a result? (5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(4) Have any additional occupational health and safety measures been taken as a result? (5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(5) What action has been taken to date and what future measures are intended to be taken as a result? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(1) The officer was testing detonators at the Maylands police complex. The detonators were evidence for an ongoing court case. The testing performed was to determine whether the detonators were operable. The fuse powder utilised did not burn in a controlled manner. He suffered burns to the face, neck and hands. The officer was wearing the correct personal protective equipment; however, it was identified that he was wearing a police issue T-shirt made from polyester, which melted onto his neck area. (2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(2) Yes. (3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(3) WorkSafe and the Australian Bomb Data Centre. (4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
(4)–(5) T-shirts made of polyester have been abolished for persons in the tactical response group and have been replaced with 100 per cent cotton. All staff have received an instruction to not wear polyester shirts.
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