The chemical waste company responsible for a massive 2019 industrial fire in Melbourne has been fined $2.9 million.

Bradbury Industrial Services Pty Ltd was sentenced after earlier pleading guilty to a single charge under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and five charges under the Dangerous Goods Act.

However, doubts remain about whether the fine will ever be paid as the company has entered liquidation. 

The fine was imposed by the County Court of Victoria for multiple charges related to dangerous goods, environmental violations, and workplace safety breaches.

The fire, which lasted four days, engulfed a storage warehouse and emitted toxic smoke into the air, leading to the closure of nearby schools. 

The court released dramatic CCTV footage showing an employee decanting a flammable substance called toluene, resulting in a sudden explosion. One worker suffered burns to his face and throat.

The prosecution alleged that the company had not provided proper training on the risks of static electricity and flammable materials, violating workplace safety regulations. Additionally, investigators found that fire safety requirements were not followed, posing a significant fire risk.

Justice Peter Rozen QC rejected the argument that the company's offences were less serious, stating that the risk of a catastrophic fire was obvious. 

However, he did not uphold the prosecution's claim that the company had neglected fire safety obligations to cut costs.

Despite the fine, the judge acknowledged the company's liquidation and lack of prior offences, but expressed doubts about the actual payment. Bradbury Industrial Services currently has a balance of only $9,000 in its liquidation process.

WorkSafe Victoria conducted inspections of five other Bradbury warehouses and found deficiencies in the storage of over 10 million litres of chemicals. 

The investigation revealed inadequate fire protection, spill containment, ventilation systems, and potential ignition sources.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Narelle Beer emphasised the serious consequences of disregarding safety requirements, stating that the fire endangered workers, emergency responders, and the surrounding communities.