Inpex investigation: Whittens safety not up to scratch according to NT WorkSafe notice

INPEX subcontractor Whittens failed to provide a safe working environment for employee Carl Delaney, according to NT WorkSafe

INPEX subcontractor Whittens failed to provide a safe working environment for employee Carl Delaney, according to NT WorkSafe.

According to allegations contained in documents obtained by the NT News, Whittens failed in its primary duty of care of Carl Delaney, who died while working on site.

NT WorkSafe inspector Rebecca Trimble undertook an immediate inspection at the site on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, and filed documents less than eight hours after Mr Delaney’s death.

Carl Delaney was killed at the Inpex site on Wednesday. PICTURE: Facebook

“I have formed a reasonable belief that (Whittens) has contravened (the Work Health and Safety Act), due to its failure to have procedures in place to deal with the installation of perlite insulation in the tanks which is in a confined space,” she said.

“The failure of a system has exposed and continues to expose workers who conduct this work to serious and imminent risk.”

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In her initial inspection, which resulted in a prohibition notice, Ms Trimble referenced section 19 of the act, and regulation 66 of the Work Health and Safety Regulations.

Section 19 relates to the primary duty of care, while the regulations relate to working in confined places.

Ms Trimble noted Whittens had, in particular, failed with “the provision and maintenance of safe systems of work”.

In a prohibition notice, Ms Trimble ordered all work involving the installation of the perlite insulation inside all tanks at Inpex to be immediately stopped.

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Mr Delaney was killed last Wednesday night when he fell into the insulation dust and disappeared below the surface.

He was pulled from the dust and treated by the on-site Inpex medical team while St John Ambulance was called.

However, by the time they arrived, Mr Delaney had died.

A Whittens spokeswoman said the company was unable to comment while the investigation was ongoing.

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Whittens is a specialist infrastructure, construction and services contractor with offices around the country.

The company’s website says: “Whittens is determined to provide and maintain a safe workplace for all staff, subcontractors, clients, suppliers and visitors”.