❓ A parliamentary question regarding a 14-tonne ammonia gas release at Yara Pilbara Fertilisers, focusing on safety protocols, departmental response, and incident reporting. The response provides details on evacuation, protective measures, departmental audit, notification time, and report accessibility.
AnsweredQoN 488Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
YARA PILBARA FERTILISERS PTY LTD
488. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Attorney General
representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the operations of Yara
Pilbara Fertilisers Pty Ltd on the Burrup Peninsula, and the release of 14 tonnes
of ammonia gas.
(1) Given that
the alarm was triggered at the boundary between the Yara Pilbara Fertilisers
site and the technical ammonium nitrate plant, were the employees and staff of
the technical ammonium nitrate plant or the Yara Pilbara Fertilisers plant
evacuated?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Did the
employees and staff of the technical ammonium nitrate plant or the Yara Pilbara
Fertilisers plant put on protective clothing and or breathing apparatus?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) What action
is the department taking to ensure the safety of all personnel at nearby
industries and communities?
(6) On what date and at what time
was the department advised of the release of 14 tonnes of ammonia gas?
(7) Will the minister release Yara's
incident investigation report; and, if not, why not?
488. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Attorney General
representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the operations of Yara
Pilbara Fertilisers Pty Ltd on the Burrup Peninsula, and the release of 14 tonnes
of ammonia gas.
(1) Given that
the alarm was triggered at the boundary between the Yara Pilbara Fertilisers
site and the technical ammonium nitrate plant, were the employees and staff of
the technical ammonium nitrate plant or the Yara Pilbara Fertilisers plant
evacuated?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Did the
employees and staff of the technical ammonium nitrate plant or the Yara Pilbara
Fertilisers plant put on protective clothing and or breathing apparatus?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) What action
is the department taking to ensure the safety of all personnel at nearby
industries and communities?
(6) On what date and at what time
was the department advised of the release of 14 tonnes of ammonia gas?
(7) Will the minister release Yara's
incident investigation report; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for Mines
and Petroleum, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) No.
(2) The incident did not require
personnel to evacuate.
(3) Yes, as required for personnel
to manage the incident.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) On 4 to 6 May
2016, the Department of Mines and Petroleum undertook an audit of Yara
processes, which covered aspects of emergency response, including the
effectiveness of their alerting system and advice to any off-site communities.
(6) The
Department of Mines and Petroleum was advised in writing by Yara of a release
of ammonia on 28 March 2016, at 2.02 pm.
(7) No. The report is a Yara
investigation report, not a Department of Mines and Petroleum report.
and Petroleum, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) No.
(2) The incident did not require
personnel to evacuate.
(3) Yes, as required for personnel
to manage the incident.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) On 4 to 6 May
2016, the Department of Mines and Petroleum undertook an audit of Yara
processes, which covered aspects of emergency response, including the
effectiveness of their alerting system and advice to any off-site communities.
(6) The
Department of Mines and Petroleum was advised in writing by Yara of a release
of ammonia on 28 March 2016, at 2.02 pm.
(7) No. The report is a Yara
investigation report, not a Department of Mines and Petroleum report.
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