18/06/2008

News Item

Concerned maintenance workers stop work 

MAINTENANCE workers at Burrup Fertilisers’ Karratha ammonia plant have downed their tools halfway through a repair job, concerned about safety.

80 workers from the maintenance crew put down their tools after their colleague was injured. The plant was undergoing a maintenance program because of the Varanus incident.

According to the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU), the man had been repairing a valve on a pipe which was supposed to be empty. When he cut through the pipe, it was found to contain ammonia vapour.

He was hospitalised for inhaling the vapour. According to workers and the union, this was the latest in a series of accidents at the plant. The workers, who represent more than half of the workforce, walked off the job because the company was not dealing with their concerns.

WorkSafe WA inspectors have visited the plant and will follow up the safety issues with the company.

source: http://www.factorymaintenance.com.au/articles/Concerned-maintenance-workers-stop-work_z174516.htm