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Company behind Campbellfield toxic waste explosion charged over separate site

An exploded waste management site sent toxic smoke billowing over Melbourne’s north. Now, the company behind that site is facing charges over another of its warehouses.

Chemical factory blaze: Black clouds of smoke cover Melbourne

A company linked to an explosive warehouse fire in Melbourne’s north is facing charges for stockpiling chemicals at a separate site.

The fire engulfed the Bradbury Industrial Services warehouse at 16 Thornycroft St in April last year.

It sent barrels of burning waste flying into the sky and blanketed nearby suburbs in smoke.

It has now emerged another warehouse run by Bradbury’s five kilometres away in Brooklyn Court, Campbellfield, was allegedly being used to store an excessive quantity of dangerous goods in an unsafe manner.

Bradbury Industrial Services has been charged by WorkSafe for chemical stockpiling at its Brooklyn Court building.

An out of control fire rages through factories around Thornycroft Street Campbellfield. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
An out of control fire rages through factories around Thornycroft Street Campbellfield. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

WorkSafe said the stockpile was uncovered during Environment Protection Authority and WorkSafe investigations into the storage of chemicals in Melbourne’s northern suburbs in January 2019.

In a statement issued today, WorkSafe said they had laid seven charges against Bradbury.

“WorkSafe alleges that Bradbury failed to take all reasonable precautions to prevent fire or

explosion of dangerous goods at the site,” the statement said.

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It alleged Bradbury failed to reduce the risk of dangerous goods leaking from intermediate bulk containers that were bulging, had loose top screw caps, or were partially collapsed.

The company, which is now in liquidation, was also charged with not having a proper fire protection system in place and not having a written emergency plan.

The case will be called at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 26.

andrew.koubaridis@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/company-behind-campbellfield-toxic-waste-explosion-charged/news-story/4a96f18e673c3d6fadc94309478318e1