Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of a fire that occurred at GrainCorp’s Port of Mackay facility on Monday night. Emergency services responded to reports of a fire at the top of three grain silos around 6:15pm, prompting Queensland Police to establish traffic diversions and an exclusion zone under the Public Safety Preservation Act. The area was evacuated, but fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the exclusion zone was lifted at approximately 8:30pm.
The fire was contained to the conveyor-belt system, and although the silos were holding chickpeas at the time, no grain was affected by the incident. GrainCorp praised the quick response of firefighters and police in controlling the fire and ensuring the safety of everyone on site. Operations at the Port of Mackay were minimally impacted, with no damage to infrastructure outside of GrainCorp facilities and normal operations resuming that same night.
Both GrainCorp and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are conducting investigations into the cause of the fire. GrainCorp has already resumed operations at the site, including loading 10,000 tonnes of chickpeas onto the vessel Velvet. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland continues to make inquiries into the incident as the investigation remains ongoing.
The swift and coordinated response from emergency services and the seamless resumption of operations at the Port of Mackay demonstrate the effectiveness of emergency protocols and the commitment to safety within the industry. GrainCorp’s prompt action in investigating the incident and resuming operations reflects their dedication to maintaining a safe and efficient working environment.
As the investigation progresses, both GrainCorp and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland will continue to collaborate to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. The safety and well-being of all personnel involved remain a top priority, and the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining rigorous safety protocols in industrial environments.
Moving forward, lessons learned from this incident will inform future safety procedures and protocols, enhancing the overall safety and resilience of operations at the Port of Mackay. By prioritizing safety, collaboration, and effective response strategies, the industry can continue to uphold the highest standards of safety and operational excellence.