Asbestos Audit Refused

An incident where 20 maintenance workers were sprayed with asbestos fibres prompted 150 workmates to walk off the job at two major power stations in the Hunter Valley last week.

The workers were cutting a fire door at the Liddell power station when the deadly fibres were released and blown around the workspace by a fan.

The door was marked asbestos free prompting worker fears Asbestos registers at the facility were out of date.

The Liddell and Bayswater power stations have been temporarily shut down for crucial long-term maintenance.

The owners, Macquarie Generation, has refused AMWU calls to do through asbestos audits of the plants.

The company has also moved to stop contractors paying workers who refused to enter workspaces until safety inspectors had completed a sweep of affected areas.

State president, Tim Ayres, says there have been other examples at the stations of asbestos not shown on the Asbestos Register and believes the company is displaying a cavalier approach to the health and safety of workers.

"Macquarie Generation has...caused a number of our members to be exposed to the most frightening and devastating diseases associated with asbestos poisoning," says Ayres.

"Given the current heightened public awareness of asbestos related issues it is unimaginable that the potential risks of exposure to asbestos were not considered by management at Macquarie Generation.

"They are trying to send a message to workers they shouldn't stick their hand up when there is a safety problem."

Hardie At The Gates

Meanwhile Unions, asbestos victims and community members will launch an

ongoing protest at the James Hardie Manufacturing Plant in Rosehill to

increase pressure on the company.

Hardie's called police in an unsuccessful attempt to remove the community

protest, which included demountable sheds and portable toilets.

"James Hardie had the audacity to say that the shed had been placed in an

area that created an unsafe practice," says Andrew Ferguson of the

Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union.

The action will continue on weekdays from 8am to 4pm at Colquhoun Road,

Rosehill until a resolution has been reached with James Hardie.

To discuss this and many other interesting OH & S topics visit our discussion boards at http://unionsafe.labor.net.au/shoptalk/

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:38 EST