The company that owns a Kalgoorlie-based assay laboratory will be the first of its kind in Western Australia to be prosecuted by WorkSafe after four workers allegedly received lead poisoning.
WorkSafe alleges that four workers of Jinning Pty Ltd recorded high levels of lead in their blood and one was hospitalised.
The alleged offences occurred over a 19-month period between August 2020 and March 2022 at the Kalgoorlie laboratory of Jinning Pty Ltd.
The company faces two charges of failing to ensure that biological monitoring was conducted on an employee in a lead-risk job, along with two charges of failing to ensure that counselling and health surveillance were provided to workers in a lead-risk job.
Jinning has two locations — Kalgoorlie and Maddington — at which fire assay work is conducted, including determining the precious metal content of core samples using lead flux.
The company was charged after it was alleged one of its workers had been admitted to hospital to undergo treatment to reduce very high blood lead levels.
It would also be alleged by WorkSafe that biological testing of three other workers showed their blood contained high levels of lead as well.
Regular blood tests for workers
WorkSafe's acting commissioner Sally North described the charges as "unique", confirming it was the first time WorkSafe has prosecuted a fire assay laboratory for allegedly failing to conduct biological testing.
"People working in lead-risk jobs should be having regular blood tests," Ms North told the ABC.
"That allows the employer to check the controls are working and the lead levels are not too high. So doing those tests regularly is really very important, which is why we have taken this case forward, to let people know the seriousness of [the allegations]."
Ms North said lead exposure could occur in different ways.
"If lead is heated, or if there's a dust produced in handling of flux, there is the risk of inhaling lead in the air," she said.
"The other really significant way people can be exposed is if they get a lead product on their hand. And if they haven't thoroughly washed their hands before eating or drinking, they can incidentally be swallowing a small amount of it.
"It can build up in the body over time, so good hygiene in lead-risk areas is a really good control."
Charged under old legislation
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996, an employer of workers who work with lead must provide these workers with counselling, health surveillance, and biological monitoring.
The charges against Jinning were laid under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 because it was alleged the offences occurred before the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 was enacted.
The maximum penalty for each of the charges is $50,000, with a total maximum fine of $200,000.
Jinning, which lists WA gold miners Calidus Resources, Norton Gold Fields, Horizon Minerals, Minjar Gold, and Focus Minerals among its clients on its website, has been contacted for comment.
The company is due to appear in the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court for a mention on June 19 and is yet to enter a plea.
