Alumina giant Alcoa has been fined $400,000 after a hot caustic solution burned school students on work experience and workers at a refinery.
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A worker noticed a burning smell and found a faulty pump emitting smoke and debris at the US-listed company's Kwinana alumina refinery near Perth, Worksafe WA says.
Fearing the pump would explode if pressure built up, a shift supervisor opened a discharge drain valve before leaving it to alert the student group to the incident.
As he did, another worker, unaware the discharge drain valve was open, pressed a start button to bring another pump online to replace the damaged pump.
This action caused an uncontrolled discharge of hot caustic solution from the discharge drainpipe.
The liquid sprayed onto some of the workers and students.
Emergency responders provided first aid to those affected by the spill before taking them to the refinery's medical centre.
WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the workers and students were extremely lucky not to have sustained more serious injuries.
"Companies must ensure all people at a workplace, including work experience students, are kept safe," she said.
"Companies must also have robust controls in place and ensure these controls are monitored so they continue to be effective."
Alcoa pleaded guilty in the Rockingham Magistrate's Court for failing to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers during the September 2022 incident.
It was fined $400,000 and ordered to pay costs of $5536.70 on Tuesday.
In a statement, Alcoa said the incident occurred during an unplanned pump changeover when an uncontrolled discharge put workers at risk of exposure to an alkaline liquid.
At the time of the incident, treatment was provided promptly to those affected.
Actions were taken to ensure nobody else was exposed to risks in the area and an investigation was carried out with findings used to inform improvements.
The company said safety remained its highest priority and a dedicated project to eliminate chemical contact incidents at its refineries has been underway since early 2023.
The project has led to a significant reduction in chemical exposure incidents and the company continues to investigate options to further reduce any workplace safety risks, a spokesman said.
Australian Associated Press
