Origin Energy LPG enters into a $495,000 enforceable undertaking

Origin Energy LPG recently entered into an enforceable undertaking with a total expenditure of $495,000 over an incident involving an LPG cylinder explosion.

On 20 March 2020, an explosion and jet fire occurred while a worker was filling a 15kg LPG cylinder using a cylinder-filling carousel at an Origin Energy LPG site in Minto, NSW.

The fire spread to other cylinders on the carousel and caused damage to the carousel, several cylinders and other ancillary equipment. No workers or other people suffered any injuries as a result of the incident.

Activities Origin Energy LPG will undertake include:

• Hosting a series of workplace and community events that will seek to prevent and reduce psychosocial risks in the workplace and the community, promoting awareness of mental health and early preventative measures.
• Developing guidance materials for industry and community regarding safely working with or in the vicinity of gas cylinders, tanks, gas systems and gas appliances that may be affected by major flood or storm events.
• Engaging subject matter experts to develop updated industry guidance on hazards, risks and control measures about electrostatic discharge as a potential ignition source for LPG or LPG vapour.

The regulator noted the alleged contravention does not appear to be a section 31 Reckless conduct category 1 offence, which if it was the case, would preclude the proposed undertaking from being accepted.

Furthermore, the strategies proposed in the undertaking have been assessed as likely to deliver long-term sustainable safety improvements in the workplace, industry and community.