displayfireworks1
09-09-2014, 08:03 PM
Australia Fireworks Company Fined
IN one of the first cases of its kind, a WA fireworks company has been fined $34,000 for possessing unlicensed explosives and the unsafe storage, supply and transport of dangerous goods.
Cardile International Fireworks pleaded guilty to 10 fireworks and explosives charges in the Perth Magistrates Court this morning.
The charges related to the supply of fireworks to an Aboriginal community festival in 2012 and the company’s Baldivis storage facility.
In September 2012 Cardile provided fireworks for the organisers of the Warakurna Desert Festival.
The explosives were transported to the remote community by Ngaanyatjarra Agency and Transport Services (NATS).
NATS was not authorised to transport such hazardous goods and was subsequently fined $5000 over the incident.
Prosecutor Jeremy Johnston, acting on behalf of the Department of Mines and Petroleum, said Cardile had also filed incorrect information with the Department about the festival fireworks show making it “impossible” for the risk of the event to be determined.
Then in January 2013, the storage of Cardile’s fireworks were inspected by dangerous goods officers
http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2014/09/08/1227051/802103-78c028e6-372c-11e4-a343-9e6c16704359.jpg
Inspectors found a total of 25.3kg of “highly sensitive” black powder explosive in bags and jars which the company was not licensed to have.
Mr Johnston said the powder was also stored with fireworks and materials that posed a risk of igniting the powder such as aerosol cans.
Black powder cannot be stored with other explosives or items that can cause friction and electrostatic sparks.
Some of the boxes in the storage facility were found to not be stored correctly or were damaged.
The company also pleaded guilty to not keeping proper records and stocktake of inventory.
Cardile’s licence was suspended as a result.
Defence counsel Andrew Skerritt said his client was remorseful and undergone changes while its license was suspended.
Mr Skerritt said the Cardile family had been providing fireworks through its small business for more than 100 years.
He said it would “not be in the public interest” to penalise the company harshly, risking Cardile’s future.
“This is a company that does provide a very important recreational service to West Australians,” Mr Skerritt said.
Cardile International was fined $20,000 for the unsafe storage of the fireworks and black powder at its Baldivis facility.
Fines of $2000 and $2500 were handed down for the two unlicensed dangerous goods charges relating to the black powder.
Fines for the three charges related to the stocktake, inventory and records of fireworks totalled $2500.
Cardile was also fined a total of $6000 for the four charges relating to the Desert Festival.
The company was also ordered to pay about $3000 in costs.
IN one of the first cases of its kind, a WA fireworks company has been fined $34,000 for possessing unlicensed explosives and the unsafe storage, supply and transport of dangerous goods.
Cardile International Fireworks pleaded guilty to 10 fireworks and explosives charges in the Perth Magistrates Court this morning.
The charges related to the supply of fireworks to an Aboriginal community festival in 2012 and the company’s Baldivis storage facility.
In September 2012 Cardile provided fireworks for the organisers of the Warakurna Desert Festival.
The explosives were transported to the remote community by Ngaanyatjarra Agency and Transport Services (NATS).
NATS was not authorised to transport such hazardous goods and was subsequently fined $5000 over the incident.
Prosecutor Jeremy Johnston, acting on behalf of the Department of Mines and Petroleum, said Cardile had also filed incorrect information with the Department about the festival fireworks show making it “impossible” for the risk of the event to be determined.
Then in January 2013, the storage of Cardile’s fireworks were inspected by dangerous goods officers
http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2014/09/08/1227051/802103-78c028e6-372c-11e4-a343-9e6c16704359.jpg
Inspectors found a total of 25.3kg of “highly sensitive” black powder explosive in bags and jars which the company was not licensed to have.
Mr Johnston said the powder was also stored with fireworks and materials that posed a risk of igniting the powder such as aerosol cans.
Black powder cannot be stored with other explosives or items that can cause friction and electrostatic sparks.
Some of the boxes in the storage facility were found to not be stored correctly or were damaged.
The company also pleaded guilty to not keeping proper records and stocktake of inventory.
Cardile’s licence was suspended as a result.
Defence counsel Andrew Skerritt said his client was remorseful and undergone changes while its license was suspended.
Mr Skerritt said the Cardile family had been providing fireworks through its small business for more than 100 years.
He said it would “not be in the public interest” to penalise the company harshly, risking Cardile’s future.
“This is a company that does provide a very important recreational service to West Australians,” Mr Skerritt said.
Cardile International was fined $20,000 for the unsafe storage of the fireworks and black powder at its Baldivis facility.
Fines of $2000 and $2500 were handed down for the two unlicensed dangerous goods charges relating to the black powder.
Fines for the three charges related to the stocktake, inventory and records of fireworks totalled $2500.
Cardile was also fined a total of $6000 for the four charges relating to the Desert Festival.
The company was also ordered to pay about $3000 in costs.