❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding worker illnesses at Alcoa refineries after liquor burner installation. The Department acknowledges reports at Wagerup and outlines investigations and meetings involving government, Alcoa, and medical professionals.
AnsweredQoN 1033Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Has the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Energy received any reports of workers becoming ill at Alcoa Wagerup or Worsley Aluminium since the Liquor Burning Plants were installed at each refinery?
(2) If yes, what research has been undertaken into these reports and what is being undertaken to guarantee the safety of the workers at these refineries?
(2) If yes, what research has been undertaken into these reports and what is being undertaken to guarantee the safety of the workers at these refineries?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 November 2001
Responded by
Minister for State Development
Response time
55 days
1) Yes, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has received reports of workers becoming ill at Alcoa Wagerup Refinery, following the installation of the Liquor Burner. The Department has not received any official reports of workers becoming ill at Worsley Alumina Refinery due to the installation of the Liquor Burner. (2) Members of the local community at Yarloop have also complained of health effects from refinery emissions. On 19 September 2001, the Health Department convened a meeting of medical practitioners involved with both employee and Yarloop resident health complaints. DMPR, DEP and Alcoa were also represented at this meeting, which discussed the health complaints and outlined the activities and investigations conducted by Alcoa, Government Departments and private consultants. A second meeting has been scheduled for 23 October to discuss the process on how to best solve the issues discussed at the first meeting. Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
The Department has not received any official reports of workers becoming ill at Worsley Alumina Refinery due to the installation of the Liquor Burner. (2) Members of the local community at Yarloop have also complained of health effects from refinery emissions. On 19 September 2001, the Health Department convened a meeting of medical practitioners involved with both employee and Yarloop resident health complaints. DMPR, DEP and Alcoa were also represented at this meeting, which discussed the health complaints and outlined the activities and investigations conducted by Alcoa, Government Departments and private consultants. A second meeting has been scheduled for 23 October to discuss the process on how to best solve the issues discussed at the first meeting. Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
(2) Members of the local community at Yarloop have also complained of health effects from refinery emissions. On 19 September 2001, the Health Department convened a meeting of medical practitioners involved with both employee and Yarloop resident health complaints. DMPR, DEP and Alcoa were also represented at this meeting, which discussed the health complaints and outlined the activities and investigations conducted by Alcoa, Government Departments and private consultants. A second meeting has been scheduled for 23 October to discuss the process on how to best solve the issues discussed at the first meeting. Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
DMPR, DEP and Alcoa were also represented at this meeting, which discussed the health complaints and outlined the activities and investigations conducted by Alcoa, Government Departments and private consultants. A second meeting has been scheduled for 23 October to discuss the process on how to best solve the issues discussed at the first meeting. Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
A second meeting has been scheduled for 23 October to discuss the process on how to best solve the issues discussed at the first meeting. Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
The Department has not received any official reports of workers becoming ill at Worsley Alumina Refinery due to the installation of the Liquor Burner. (2) Members of the local community at Yarloop have also complained of health effects from refinery emissions. On 19 September 2001, the Health Department convened a meeting of medical practitioners involved with both employee and Yarloop resident health complaints. DMPR, DEP and Alcoa were also represented at this meeting, which discussed the health complaints and outlined the activities and investigations conducted by Alcoa, Government Departments and private consultants. A second meeting has been scheduled for 23 October to discuss the process on how to best solve the issues discussed at the first meeting. Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
(2) Members of the local community at Yarloop have also complained of health effects from refinery emissions. On 19 September 2001, the Health Department convened a meeting of medical practitioners involved with both employee and Yarloop resident health complaints. DMPR, DEP and Alcoa were also represented at this meeting, which discussed the health complaints and outlined the activities and investigations conducted by Alcoa, Government Departments and private consultants. A second meeting has been scheduled for 23 October to discuss the process on how to best solve the issues discussed at the first meeting. Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
DMPR, DEP and Alcoa were also represented at this meeting, which discussed the health complaints and outlined the activities and investigations conducted by Alcoa, Government Departments and private consultants. A second meeting has been scheduled for 23 October to discuss the process on how to best solve the issues discussed at the first meeting. Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
A second meeting has been scheduled for 23 October to discuss the process on how to best solve the issues discussed at the first meeting. Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
Alcoa have undertaken considerable research since the first reports of illness at the Wagerup Refinery. The Department undertakes site visits and is a member of the Wagerup Refinery Subcommittee. Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
Consequently, the Department is being kept informed of changes to administrative procedures and also to engineering and process controls undertaken by Alcoa, which are aimed to continually reduce worker exposure to fumes and emissions at the refinery.
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