An investigation is underway at Inpex's Ichthys LNG project offshore Australia after a contractor was potentially exposed to sulphur dioxide and hospitalised, raising a "safety concern". The probe is being conducted by NT WorkSafe, the Northern Territory's workplace health and safety regulator.

Incident Details and Union Concerns

The incident occurred on 12 January, involving a contractor employed by Altrad working near the plant's acid gas incinerators. According to union official Caleb Burke, the worker smelled a strong odour and soon experienced a dry, itchy throat and a regular cough. The symptoms worsened, leading the worker to visit the on-site medic two days later before being transferred to a regional hospital. Burke described the incident as "serious", arguing that exposure to a hazardous substance at a major facility resulting in hospitalisation legally requires notifying authorities.

Company Response and Monitoring Data

Inpex's general manager for the Northern Territory, Richard Finch, stated that safety is the company's priority. He said routine monitoring shows that outside the exclusion zone, the Ichthys LNG facility operates "well below" national exposure limits for sulphur dioxide (2 ppm) and hydrogen sulphide (10 ppm). Finch reaffirmed the company's commitment to safety, environmental protection, and continued safe operations.

Dispute Over Reportability

Burke reported that during a meeting, Inpex executives suggested the incident might not be reportable because the worker did not receive medical treatment within 48 hours of exposure. Burke criticised this, stating the community expects the highest safety standards and not arguments over "technicalities" regarding notification.

Broader Context of Investigations

This incident adds to other ongoing investigations into Inpex's Australian operations. These include probes into the under-reporting of emissions at Ichthys LNG and mercury leaks on the Ichthys central processing facility (CPF). Furthermore, last month, workers and unions on the CPF complained of overcrowding. Inpex attributed an approximate 25% temporary increase in personnel to commissioning work on a new Booster Compressor Module installed in 2025.