Benalla company D&R Henderson fined following explosion

A Benalla company has been fined more than $16,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency following an explosion reported last year.

D&R Henderson at Benalla has been fined by the EPA.

A Benalla particle manufacturer has been fined more than $16,000 following an explosion last year.

Monsbent, trading as D&R Henderson, was charged for an explosion reported by a member of the public and for having a monitoring plan which was inadequate to satisfy the conditions of the company’s Environmental Protection Agency licence.

The explosion and fire occurred on November 3, 2020 about 1pm.

EPA North East Regional Manager Renee Palmer said the person who phoned EPA’s pollution hotline also described a plume of smoke rising from the premises.

“The explosion took place inside the facility, the local CFA brigade was called to the premises and WorkSafe was notified, but the company did not report the incident to EPA,” Ms Palmer said.

“It’s a legal requirement for any company operating under an EPA licence to notify EPA of any breach of their licence conditions, and that is a clear responsibility, it’s in writing on their licence.”

When contacted by the EPA, the company provided details of the incident and the EPA determined the discharge of smoke and pressure during the incident was considered an unlicensed discharge to the air, something that must be reported to EPA.

Under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and the Infringements Act 2006, the company has the right to have the decision to issue the infringement notice reviewed or alternatively to have the matter heard and determined by a court.

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Originally published as Benalla company D&R Henderson fined following explosion