Asbestos allegedly found in imported wind turbine parts at Geelong
The CFMEU is ringing alarm bells after asbestos was allegedly found in a shipment of wind turbine parts at a busy Victorian port.
The workers’ union alleges highly hazardous material was found in brake pads used inside wind turbines in a shipment at the Port of Geelong this week.
Although asbestos imports have been banned in Australia since 2003, sporadic discoveries have been made in playground sand at schools across Australia in the past month.
The CFMEU spoke to WorkSafe Victoria over the discovery, which national secretary Zach Smith claimed was a “shocking and inexcusable breach” of Australian health laws.
“The law is very clear and has been in place across the country since 2003, it is illegal to use, import or manufacture asbestos,” Mr Smith said.
“But 22 years later, we see our wind farm companies recklessly flouting this law and putting workers at risk through their own negligence.”
The CFMEU alleged that employees of Danish-owned Vestas, Goldwind Australia and Beijing Jingeng Energy International may have been exposed to asbestos.
The union demanded that WorkSafe return all asbestos-containing components from the three companies and replace them with safe substitutes.
It comes after WorkSafe and Goldwind Australia confirmed white asbestos was found in brake pads used on wind turbine lifts at their sites.
A spokesman for Goldwind Australia said at the time that regulatory authorities were immediately notified and access was restricted.
“All staff access to affected turbines with 3S lifts across the entire Goldwind Australia fleet has been restricted,” the spokesperson told the ABC.
“An extensive material and air testing program is ongoing to check other replacement brake pads and wind turbines for the presence of asbestos.”
Goldwind wind farms contribute more than 1.8 gigawatts of renewable energy nationally, with ongoing projects at the Cattle Hill Wind Farm in Tasmania and the Moulamein and Gilgandra Shire in New South Wales.
William Churchill, head of policy and impact at the Clean Energy Council, said earlier this month that the number of areas affected by the asbestos discovery had not yet been determined.
“Tests are continuing on wind projects as a precaution,” he said.
Goldwind Australia, Vestas and WorkSafe Victoria have been contacted for comment.
