The Australian offshore regulator NOPSEMA is investigating alleged mercury exposure incidents on Inpex's Ichthys offshore platform. The investigation was prompted by the Offshore Alliance, which raised concerns after workers were informed they had been exposed to mercury sulphate while erecting scaffolding inside dehydration scrubbers during a maintenance shutdown in late August. Work was suspended due to excessive black soot.

Conflicting Test Results and Union Concerns

A significant point of contention involves conflicting health test results. The unions reported a worker with dangerously high blood mercury levels. This finding contradicted earlier urine tests arranged by Inpex's contractor Monadelphous, which had indicated all workers' results were within a normal range and required no further action. These discrepancies have led to serious questions about the adequacy and reliability of the health monitoring conducted by Monadelphous and Inpex. The Offshore Alliance also stated that none of the affected workers were interviewed as part of the initial response.

Inpex's Response and Position

Inpex confirmed that a substance observed inside a vessel on the Ichthys Explorer central processing facility was identified as mercury sulphide. The company stated that work was immediately suspended, a risk assessment was conducted confirming a low health risk, and enhanced personal protective equipment was introduced before work safely resumed. Inpex notified NOPSEMA and, as a precaution, conducted health screenings for all personnel in the area, with all results reportedly indicating mercury levels within the typical range observed in a normal population. The company emphasized that safety is its highest priority and that it continues to work closely with the regulator.

Broader Environmental and Safety Concerns

This incident occurs against a backdrop of wider environmental and safety concerns raised about the Ichthys LNG project. A worker at the onshore Darwin LNG plant expressed concerns about air quality, though Inpex stated emissions are within government guidelines. The worker alleged that repeated concerns from staff about toxic emissions, oil spills, and maintenance issues in recent years have been dismissed, accusing management of prioritizing production over safety and the environment. Separate investigations are underway after Inpex admitted to underreporting emissions of toxic chemicals at the Ichthys project in 2023 and 2024. There have also been oil spills at the Darwin gas plant in 2023 and 2024, with some volumes leaking into local mangroves.