Skip to content
Employment Relations, Engineering

ORICA FINED $1.2 MILLION AFTER WORKERS EXPOSED TO COBALT DUST

Safe Work NSW 2 mins read
  • Media:

1 May 2024

Orica Australia Pty Ltd has today been fined $1.2 million in the District Court of NSW after SafeWork NSW prosecuted the company when two workers were exposed over a number of years to cobalt dust, a known respiratory sensitising agent which can cause occupational illness.

Orica pleaded guilty to a Category 1 offence, the highest category under NSW law, pursuant to section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in relation to the exposure between 2014 and 2019 at a Kooragang site which left one worker developing occupational asthma.

A Category 1 offence occurs when a person has a health and safety duty but engages in conduct where an individual is exposed to a risk of death or serious injury or illness and is reckless as to that risk. In this case it was via exposure to cobalt dust through inhalation and skin irritation and direct contact to the eyes, nose, mouth and skin.

Orica’s activities at the industrial chemical manufacturing facility at Kooragang Island includes producing cobalt catalyst pellets in the Cobalt Catalyst Manufacturing Shed where the two men worked.

The court found cobalt dust and powders were generated during manufacturing processes and were visible, although the amount of dust and powders generated varied and depended on the stage of the above manufacturing process and the state of the cobalt catalyst.

The chronic effects of exposure to cobalt dust include respiratory effects such as asthma, fibrosis and lung damage, and more rarely cardiac effects and congestion of the liver and kidneys.

For more information on health monitoring for Cobalt Dust, please visit https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-11/health_monitoring_guidance_-_cobalt_1.pdf 

Please attribute to Head of SafeWork NSW Trent Curtin.

“The Court found the likelihood of risk of exposure was certain and few steps were taken by Orica to guard against the risk, and those steps were poorly implemented and inadequate.

“This is a prosecution for a Category 1 offence of the NSW WHS legislation and sends a clear message to industry – if you put people at risk we will prosecute you to the full extent of the laws.”

ENDS

MEDIA: media@customerservice.nsw.gov.au | 0438 108 797 

Media

Attachments

MEDIA-RELEASE-Orica-fined-1.2-million-after-workers-exposed-to-cobalt-dust-1.pdf

Download media

More from this category

  • Employment Relations, Human Resources
  • 20/01/2025
  • 09:37
ADP

ADP Research: Only 24% of Global Workers Are Confident They Have Skills for Career Advancement

Study examines the untapped potential of workers in the first of a series of studies comprising the refreshed “People at Work 2025” report, built on the ADP Research Global Workforce Survey Melbourne, Australia, January 15, 2025 – Employers that invest in continued learning and on-the-job development stand to reap bottom-line benefits that go beyond having a well-prepared workforce. According to the first study in ADP Research’s refreshed “People at Work 2025” report series, only a quarter (24%) of the global workforce is confident they have the skills needed to advance to the next job level in the near future, while…

  • Employment Relations, Mental Health
  • 15/01/2025
  • 00:01
atWork Australia

New year, new hope for Australian employment seekers

As the new year begins, many people look to turn the page on old challenges and look forward with renewed hope. For individuals managing mental health challenges, this time can be an opportunity to reset and seek a fresh start. Recent research revealed that more than two in five (42.9%) Australians aged 16–85 have experienced a mental health concern at some point in their lives1, highlighting the widespread impact of mental health challenges. For many, finding meaningful employment is a transformative step in their journey, offering more than just financial independence – it provides a renewed sense of purpose, stability…

  • Contains:
  • Employment Relations, Human Resources
  • 13/01/2025
  • 15:52
Business in Heels

Closing the Gender Gap in Technology, E-Commerce and Cyber: How Parents Can Help Shape a Better Future

[Melbourne, Vic]– As industries like technology and e-commerce evolve to embrace digital innovation, the gender gap remains a critical issue, with women significantly underrepresented in leadership and technical roles. The new Empower Her Future Program, developed by Business in Heels and powered by SEDA, is stepping in to create systemic change—and parents have a vital role to play in shaping this future. This groundbreaking gap-year initiative equips young women with the skills, confidence, and industry exposure needed to thrive in careers traditionally dominated by men. Participants graduate with a Diploma of Business and complete two-week work experience placements with leading…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.