Smelter repairs great but union wants more

MUCH-NEEDED maintenance works have been completed at Hobart’s zinc smelter.

Nyrstar this month finished a 40-day project which involved 26 separate works completed and $11m spent.

Maintenance works included replacement of roaster furnace hearth, a steam system overhaul and repairs to the gas offtake expansion structure.

In 2018, the Australian Workers’ Union wrote to WorkSafe Tasmania about 15 safety issues at the smelter including claims of unstable flooring and an under-maintained flue system in one area.

Twenty-five contracting companies and 216 workers, including 48 interstate employees, completed the project, which started in July.

Nyrstar said no interstate workers were from Victoria.

Fire investigators earlier this year said a fire at the smelter, which took 20 crews to contain, was caused by a technical electrical issue.

Nyrstar project manager Mark Breen said while one first aid incident occurred during the combined 66,000 hours worked, “safety performance was exceptional”.

“The project highlighted the importance of detailed planning and the use of specialist workers and equipment to complement our own resources,” he said.

“With many tasks outside of our day-to-day maintenance capability we needed to engage local and interstate specialist workers to supplement our own experience.”

AWU Tasmania lead organiser Kevin Midson welcomed the smelter upgrades but said more work was needed.

“We have been calling for the company to invest in safety upgrades for a number of years, as we hold serious safety concerns about sections of the site,” he said.

“We see this as the beginning of a much-needed maintenance program to ensure the safety of workers on site. For example, further investment is needed in the cell room to ensure the roof, flooring and working environment is safe for workers.” james.kitto@news.com.au