Fuel firm fined $150,000

An explosion and fire at Mascot Airport, which injured a mechanic in 2002, has resulted in a fuel company being fined $150,000 in the NSW Industrial Court.

Kel Campbell Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of section 8(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 for failing to ensure persons not in its employment were not exposed to risk during fuel transfer operations.

A mechanic emplyed by Caltex suffered burns to his face and chest when diesel fuel he was pumping from an underground tank at Mascot to a road tanker exploded and caught fire.

As a result of earlier WorkCover prosecutions in the Industrial Court over the same incident, Caltex was fined $240,000 and Qantas $150,000.

In handing down the fine, Justice Boland said it was reasonably foreseeable that the fire/explosion could occur during the fuel transfer process.