Pollution Incident Response

This is an extract of the Air Liquide New South Wales Emergency Response and Evacuation Plan. It details the specific sections of this plan that are affected by the PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT OPERATIONS (GENERAL) REGULATION 2009, Chapter 7 Part 3A. The document has been developed to allow members of the public to have sight of the activities that will be undertaken by this site in the event of an incident.

This document refers only to incidents or potential incidents at the Air Liquide Facility located at 43-47 Pine Road, Fairfield, NSW 2165. Other establishments will have alternate plans that refer to their specific operations.

The site handles gases which are maintained in several ways, with different properties, which could cause incidents that would require the attendance of several government agencies to attend. The gases regularly handled are: • Cryogenic, if released they can cause fogs as they evaporate and cold burns to persons • Flammable, if allowed to build up into sufficient volume can explode in air • Toxic, these can cause ill health or death, depending on the gas and concentration • Oxidising gases, these can increase the strength of any fire present • Inert gases, these can cause ill health if inhaled in large quantities.

Should an incident occur which has the possibility of allowing the release of any gas which could harm persons or the environment the following agencies will be contacted, in the order below, to render assistance to reduce any pollution to as low a level as possible:

1st response agencies through 000, Police, Fire, Ambulance Service. They will be expected to take command of the incident until it is completed.
The offices of the Environment Protection Authority – 131 555
WorkCover NSW 13 10 50 d. Department of Health – Parramatta 9840 3603
Local Council – Holroyd 9840 9840 Working hours, 9840 8969 out of hours
Other parties in the immediate area as required. Phone numbers and other details are held and they will be contacted initially by phone and by attending the site if no reply is received.

If it is possible to identify the cause of the spill without further endangering the safety of staff then the area will be shut down and the cause of any leak contained. Should this not be possible all staff will be evacuated and the area secured. Depending on the polluting product it may be possible to contain and neutralize in accordance with the instructions in the relevant SDS.