The ammonium nitrate accident that occurred in Beirut overnight is a tragedy for Lebanon and the families affected by this terrible event. The thoughts and sympathies of the chemistry industry are with all who are impacted.
The health and safety of workers and communities is the number one priority for the Australian chemistry industry.
The safe storage and transportation of dangerous goods like ammonium nitrate is the focus of significant regulation by state and federal authorities in Australia, including Major Hazard Facility requirements and explosive regulation.
The industry is committed to ensuring these strict regulations are rigorously adhered to.
The full circumstances of the incident are not yet known. Chemistry Australia and its members are closely following the incident and will continue to work with regulators and authorities to ensure Australia’s robust regulatory environment is maintained.
Media contacts:
Shayna Welsh – [email protected] or 0448 660 443
Chemistry Australia is the pre-eminent national body representing the $40 billion Australian chemistry industry, one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the country. The industry supports more than 212,000 full time jobs and contributes more than $38 billion to Australia’s GDP. Members of Chemistry Australia are positioned across the entire value chain including manufacturers, importers and distributors, logistics and supply chain partners, raw material suppliers, fabricators, compounders, recyclers, research, academia and service providers to the industry. These businesses range from small family-owned companies to leading national and multinational enterprises.