WorkSafe has laid charges against two companies over the 2008 deaths of a tanker driver and a manager at the Broome depot of one of the companies.

Baker Hughes Australia Pty Ltd (operators of a Broome depot) and Oilfields Transport Services Pty Ltd (a transport services company engaged by Baker Hughes) have both been charged with failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing the deaths of the two workers.

Leon Mobbs and Geoff Lucas, both 51, were killed in December 2008 when the tanker they were standing next to ruptured and exploded during attempts to empty it of a load of barite powder.

Mr Lucas and another employee had collected two tanker loads of barite powder from Baker Hughes’ depot and delivered it to the Broome wharf where it was to be transferred to a supply vessel. Mr Mobbs had accompanied the tankers in a car towing the required compressor.

It is alleged that the transfer of the barite to the vessel could not be completed at the wharf because the powder contained too much moisture, causing it to clog inside the tanker.  The three men returned to the Baker Hughes depot to empty the tankers back into the silos.

One of the tankers was successfully unloaded, and the men commenced the unloading of the second tanker.

It was further alleged that, on a number of occasions, the tanker was de-pressurised while the inside was manually scraped down, then re-pressurised to remove the powder.

On the final occasion the tanker exploded, causing fatal injuries to Mr Mobbs and Mr Lucas, who were standing alongside the tanker.

The case will be heard in the Broome Magistrates Court in January, when WorkSafe will allege that there were safe systems of work available to both employers that could have prevented the deaths.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said today that a thorough investigation had been conducted into the deaths.

“WorkSafe has conducted a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragedy, and is now in a position to take prosecution action against the two companies,” Mr McCulloch said.

“The next of kin of both men have been advised of this decision and we will now await the outcome of the court proceedings.”