A Thomastown company has been fined more than $7500 by the Environment Protection Authority for illegally discharging a hazardous gas into the air.
Electromold Australia was found to have discharged the gas from its Holt Parade premises on September 10.
The company’s actions caused nearby factories to be evacuated.
EPA metropolitan manager Daniel Hunt said the company had put waste into containers for disposal. Residual contamination then caused a chemical reaction.
He said companies have a responsibility to their workers and the community to be very diligent in handling waste materials.
“The reaction caused a vapour to discharge up to five metres into the air, and resulted in surrounding factories being evacuated,” he said.
“Four staff members were ordered to remain inside the factory until the air could be neutralised … MFB eventually controlled the substance, which took an entire day, using soda ash and pH testing, before the site could be declared safe.
“This incident could have been worse.”
Mr Hunt said the company did not have any emergency management procedures in place at the time to prevent such an incident occurring.
“The company now has put in place acceptable practices to guarantee its containers are ready for reuse before being filled with waste,” he said
