Esso responsible for fatal blast

"The ultimate cause of the accident on September 25 [1998] was the 
failure of Esso to equip its employees with appropriate knowledge to deal 
with the events which occurred", said Royal Commissioner Daryl Dawson. Two 
experienced maintenance supervisors — Peter Wilson and John Lowery — were 
killed, eight other workers were injured and most Victorians were without 
gas for almost two weeks.

The report of the Royal Commission into the explosion at Esso's Longford 
plant was released on Monday this week.

"Not only was their training inadequate, but there were not current 
operating procedures to guide them in dealing with the problem which they 
encountered", said the report.

Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Leigh Hubbard welcomed the report, 
saying that "The focus on Esso's failure to deliver proper training and 
safety management systems at Longford was clear from the evidence before 
the Royal Commission.

"I applaud the view that lack of information, knowledge of procedures and 
adequate supervision were not the fault of individuals or supervisors, but 
the failing of this hugely profitable multinational corporation", said Mr 
Hubbard.

The individual workers blamed by Esso during the enquiry were exonerated.

"In effect this is a finding of gross negligence against Esso."

It is also an indictment against the Kennett Government which abdicated its 
role in the regulation of safety at the most dangerous industrial plants in 
Victoria.

Mr Hubbard pointed out that the Government and WorkCover Authority had 
failed to implement WorkSafe Australia's national standards for major 
hazard facilities. 

Regulations were drafted but not implemented because of industry pressure.

The Trades Hall is pleased with the Commission's recommendations that a new 
regulatory agency be set up under legislation to supervise major hazard 
facilities around Victoria.

This was something the Trades Hall had raised in its final submission to 
the enquiry.

"More pleasing is that view of the Commission that the major hazard unit 
should be set up under separate legislation and be independent, in order to 
avoid conflict of interests."

The Victorian Trades Hall Council has called on the State Government to 
immediately introduce the necessary legislation in line with the 
Commission's recommendations.

While the Commission's report can not bring back the lives of the two 
workers, its recommendations can, if implemented, save the lives of other 
workers.

Its findings should be of assistance to those seeking compensation from 
Esso — a subsidiary of Exxon, one of the largest and most powerful 
corporations in the world.

Esso management should now face criminal charges for their negligence.