NT WorkSafe Investigates Suspected Gas Exposure at Inpex Ichthys Facility
The Northern Territory's workplace safety regulator, NT WorkSafe, is investigating a suspected incident at Inpex's Ichthys gas facility in Darwin.
Incident Details
One worker was hospitalized following potential exposure to sulphur dioxide. The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) NT organiser, Caleb Burke, reported the incident to NT WorkSafe.
The incident involved a contractor employed by Altrad, who was potentially exposed to gas on January 12 while working near the plant's acid gas incinerators. The worker reported a strong smell, followed by a dry and itchy throat and a cough.
After symptoms worsened, the worker visited Inpex's site medic on January 14. They were subsequently transferred to Palmerston Regional Hospital, where they were diagnosed with reactive airways disease. Prolonged exposure to sulphur dioxide is linked to respiratory issues.
Regulatory Inquiry and Reporting Dispute
NT WorkSafe confirmed it began an inquiry on January 15, after receiving a safety concern about the hospitalized worker. Caleb Burke stated that the nature of the incident is serious:
"Exposure to a hazardous substance at a major hazardous facility resulting in hospitalization is a serious matter requiring notification to authorities."
However, Burke alleged that during a meeting, Inpex executives suggested the incident was not reportable. Their alleged reasoning was that the worker did not receive medical treatment within 48 hours of exposure.
Burke countered this assertion, stating that:
"Immediate treatment as an inpatient in a hospital, for any duration, requires notification."
Inpex has not responded to inquiries regarding the incident.
Broader Workplace Concerns and Ongoing Investigations
During a recent site visit, Caleb Burke reported that multiple other workers raised concerns about sulphur dioxide exposure near the acid gas incinerator. These workers allegedly claimed that management dismissed their concerns, telling them they were "jumping on the bandwagon."
Burke described these alleged responses as unacceptable, especially given previous concerns he had raised about the reporting culture on site.
The Ichthys gas facility is currently subject to separate federal and NT government investigations concerning an oil spill in Darwin Harbour in October and the under-reporting of toxic chemical emissions. Workers have also recently raised concerns about general pollution exposure, burns from hot oil, and a workplace environment where staff concerns are reportedly dismissed. Media reports last month also indicated an investigation into suspected mercury poisoning at an offshore facility off the NT coast.