❓ Hon Phil Twiss questions the Minister for Emergency Services regarding the Maddington lithium battery recycling facility fire, focusing on safety protocols and DFES preparedness. The response deflects responsibility for some questions to the Minister for Industrial Relations.
AnsweredQoN 356Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Emergency services—Lithium battery fire
356. Hon Phil Twiss to
the minister representing the Minister for
Emergency Services:
I refer to the
recent major fire at the Li-ion Energy's lithium battery recycling facility in
Maddington last month.
(1) Was a comprehensive safety case,
including a fire safety study for the site, submitted as part of the licensed
conditions, and did it account for the different types of battery materials to
be stored on site?
(2) Was the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services aware of the different types of batteries and the quantities
stored on the site before the fire?
(3) Did the DFES emergency response plan
take into account the differences in types of lithium batteries from a
firefighting perspective?
(4) Did the Department of Mines,
Petroleum and Exploration's site assessment identify a specific risk in storing
and handling lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries in the same facility?
356. Hon Phil Twiss to
the minister representing the Minister for
Emergency Services:
I refer to the
recent major fire at the Li-ion Energy's lithium battery recycling facility in
Maddington last month.
(1) Was a comprehensive safety case,
including a fire safety study for the site, submitted as part of the licensed
conditions, and did it account for the different types of battery materials to
be stored on site?
(2) Was the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services aware of the different types of batteries and the quantities
stored on the site before the fire?
(3) Did the DFES emergency response plan
take into account the differences in types of lithium batteries from a
firefighting perspective?
(4) Did the Department of Mines,
Petroleum and Exploration's site assessment identify a specific risk in storing
and handling lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries in the same facility?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for some notice. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister
for Emergency Services.
(1) This matter falls under the
responsibility of the Minister for Industrial Relations.
(2)–(3) The Department of Fire and Emergency
Services' incident controller obtained advice from the multi-agency hazmat
emergency advisory team (HEAT) on the strategies to fight fires involving
lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries. In the Maddington fire, both
battery types were present.
(4) This matter falls under the
responsibility of the Minister for Industrial Relations.
for some notice. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister
for Emergency Services.
(1) This matter falls under the
responsibility of the Minister for Industrial Relations.
(2)–(3) The Department of Fire and Emergency
Services' incident controller obtained advice from the multi-agency hazmat
emergency advisory team (HEAT) on the strategies to fight fires involving
lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries. In the Maddington fire, both
battery types were present.
(4) This matter falls under the
responsibility of the Minister for Industrial Relations.
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