Stelkea fined $40k for gas explosion at scuba diving centre in Geelong

A horror workplace incident involving a cylinder explosion at a Geelong business caused a man to lose his leg, a court has heard.

Australian Diving Instruction on Melbourne Rd in Drumcondra. Picture: Alison Wynd.

A devastating workplace explosion at a Geelong scuba diving business resulted in a man losing his leg, as well as causing significant damage to the shop, a court has heard.

Stelkea Pty Ltd, which was trading as Australian Diving Instruction, avoided a conviction in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court last week after the company pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace.

Stephen Mabbett is the company’s sole director, according to Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents and the shop is located on Melbourne Rd in Drumcondra.

In October 2022, an employee was filling scuba cylinders with compressed air when one exploded, resulting in the male worker in his 30s to lose his left leg.

The company had a policy whereby the tanks that required filling were placed near the rear door with their caps off.

Broken windows at Australian Diving Instruction following the explosion. Picture: Alison Wynd.

The employee filled the tanks in accordance with the procedure that was posted above the filling station.

As the three tanks being filled neared capacity, he shut down the valves, however, as he was closing the valve on one of the cylinders, he could hear a whistle and assumed it was a leakage.

Within seconds of hearing the sound, one of the scuba cylinders exploded.

This resulted in internal structural damage and serious injuries to the victim, including the loss of his left leg below the knee and serious damage to his right foot.

Australian Diving Instruction on Melbourne Rd Drumcondra where a man was injured during an explosion. Picture: Alison Wynd

Australian Standards requires scuba cylinders to be tested every 12 months.

The court heard it was unclear when the cylinder that failed was last tested.

WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Sam Jenkin said the failure to comply with simple safety standards had dire consequences.

“This is a horrific and preventable incident that has sadly left a worker with life-changing injuries,” he said.

Broken windows at Australian Diving Instruction. Picture: Alison Wynd.

“It is particularly disturbing to see the failure in this case given that diving is an industry where keeping equipment properly maintained and ensuring it complies with appropriate standards can be the difference between life and death.”

Stelkea was fined $40,000 and ordered to pay costs of $4386.

No conviction was recorded.

In September, WorkSafe launched an investigation into the near fatal drowning of two scuba divers at St Leonards.

Originally published as Stelkea fined $40k for gas explosion at scuba diving centre in Geelong