DP World convicted for ethyl acrylate leak

DP World Australia (formerly P&O Ports ANZ) has recently paid $80,000 after a damaged valve in a storage container leaked ethyl acrylate at its Coode Island terminal in Melbourne.

The incident occurred in September 2007, and the chemical leak caused an odour in a large area as far as 12 km away from the facility.

The container of ethyl acrylate, a chemical used to manufacture fibreglass and plastics, was being offloaded from a ship by a crane. Workers did not notice the leak and the chemical seeped into the ground.

Two of the terminal workers, two fire brigade staff and a paramedic later reported nauseousness and eye and respiratory irritation. The Environmental Protection Agency received 60 residential complaints about the glue-like odour.

Sixty DP World employees felt ill the day after the incident.

While there was no harm to the environment and no permanent harm to humans arising from the incident, prosecutors say companies like DP World need to exercise the utmost care when dealing with dangerous goods.

DP World will pay $80,000 to Future Canvas, which is an organisation building a community garden at Victoria Harbour. The company will also advertise in newspapers acknowledging their conviction and pay $10,000 in court costs.