Australian Pet Brands, also known as Real Pet Food, will pay over $1.3 million for safety and equipment upgrades, mandated by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), following a phosphoric acid spill at its Dubbo site.
A faulty valve had caused approximately 300 litres of phosphoric acid, used to extend the shelf life of pet food, to spill inside the facility’s production tower.
The acid spread across several levels of the building and was cleaned up by emergency Hazmat crews.
With the EPA agreeing to a legally binding Enforceable Undertaking (EU), the company will have to pay over $1.38 million to prevent further incidents and hold the company to account.
“This was a serious chemical spill that demanded an emergency services response,” said Jason Gordon, EPA executive director of regulatory operations.
“Fortunately, no environmental harm occurred, but the potential risk was significant.
“These changes will not only make the site safer for workers, but they’ll also provide stronger protection for the environment by improving how chemicals are stored, handled and monitored,” said Gordon.
Australian Pet Brands will have to relocate its acid dosing system from the top to the ground floor, and automate systems that were previously manual, such as valve controls for dosing products and holding tanks.
It must also strengthen spill containment measures and improve training and inspection procedures.
As part of the agreement, the company will also pay $75,000 to the Wambangalang Environmental Education Centre to provide repairs and improvements to its model wetland teaching space.
