Vic: Chemical leak cost company $80,000

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2009
Vic: Chemical leak cost company $80,000

By Daniel Fogarty

MELBOURNE, April 16 AAP - One of the world's largest marine terminal operators has
been ordered to pay $80,000 over a leak that sent a putrid chemical odour across Melbourne's
northern suburbs.

Residents up to 12km away feared for their health as the pungent odour chocked the
air in September 2007.

Ethyl acrylate, a substance used in the manufacture of fibreglass and plastics, leaked
into the ground after a valve in a storage container was damaged at the DP World Australia
terminal at Coode Island in inner Melbourne, the Melbourne Magistrates court heard on
Thursday.

A container of the substance was being off-loaded from a ship by a crane at the time
of the incident.

Workers operating the crane did not notice the leak, the court heard.

Two workers at the terminal, two fire brigade personnel and a paramedic reported feeling
nauseous and suffered eye and respiratory irritation.

Sixty residents complained to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the odour.

In statements to the EPA residents described a strong glue-type smell.

The following day a further 60 employees of DP World reported feeling ill.

DP World Australia, which previously traded as P&O Ports Ltd, on Thursday pleaded guilty
to polluting the atmosphere in a manner that was offensive to the senses of human beings.

The company's barrister Graeme Peake said that with such a large volume of dangerous
goods at the Port of Melbourne it was "almost inevitable" that one day there would be
an incident.

But, he said, the consequences of this incident were at the lower end of the scale
given there was no harm to the environment and no permanent harm done to humans.

Prosecutor Henry Jackson said it was incumbent upon companies like DP World to ensure
they exercised the utmost care when dealing with dangerous goods.

The court heard the parties had reached an agreed penalty which included an $80,000
payment by the terminal operator to Future Canvas, an organisation building a community
garden at Victoria Harbour.

The penalty also involves DP World Australia advertising in newspapers that they were
convicted by a court.

Magistrate Ian von Einem agreed the penalty was suitable.

He convicted DP World and ordered they pay $10,000 court costs.

AAP df/mh/cdh

KEYWORD: DP WORLD

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