Esso responsible for fatal blast The following article was published in "The Guardian", newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, June 30th, 1999. Contact address: 65 Campbell Street, Surry Hills. Sydney. 2010 Australia. Phone: (612) 9212 6855 Fax: (612) 9281 5795. Email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Webpage: http://www.peg.apc.org/~guardian Subscription rates on request. ****************************** "The ultimate cause of the accident on September 25 [1998] was the failure of Esso to equip its employees with appropriate knowledge to deal with the events which occurred", said Royal Commissioner Daryl Dawson. Two experienced maintenance supervisors -- Peter Wilson and John Lowery -- were killed, eight other workers were injured and most Victorians were without gas for almost two weeks. The report of the Royal Commission into the explosion at Esso's Longford plant was released on Monday this week. "Not only was their training inadequate, but there were not current operating procedures to guide them in dealing with the problem which they encountered", said the report. Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Leigh Hubbard welcomed the report, saying that "The focus on Esso's failure to deliver proper training and safety management systems at Longford was clear from the evidence before the Royal Commission. "I applaud the view that lack of information, knowledge of procedures and adequate supervision were not the fault of individuals or supervisors, but the failing of this hugely profitable multinational corporation", said Mr Hubbard. The individual workers blamed by Esso during the enquiry were exonerated. "In effect this is a finding of gross negligence against Esso." It is also an indictment against the Kennett Government which abdicated its role in the regulation of safety at the most dangerous industrial plants in Victoria. Mr Hubbard pointed out that the Government and WorkCover Authority had failed to implement WorkSafe Australia's national standards for major hazard facilities. Regulations were drafted but not implemented because of industry pressure. The Trades Hall is pleased with the Commission's recommendations that a new regulatory agency be set up under legislation to supervise major hazard facilities around Victoria. This was something the Trades Hall had raised in its final submission to the enquiry. "More pleasing is that view of the Commission that the major hazard unit should be set up under separate legislation and be independent, in order to avoid conflict of interests." The Victorian Trades Hall Council has called on the State Government to immediately introduce the necessary legislation in line with the Commission's recommendations. While the Commission's report can not bring back the lives of the two workers, its recommendations can, if implemented, save the lives of other workers. Its findings should be of assistance to those seeking compensation from Esso -- a subsidiary of Exxon, one of the largest and most powerful corporations in the world. Esso management should now face criminal charges for their negligence. The Guardian 65 Campbell Street, Surry Hills. 2010 Australia. Email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Website: http://www.peg.apc.org/~guardian -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
