It was reported earlier this month that eight power substations on the Central Coast contain hazardous levels of asbestos. These claims have been refuted by electricity distributor Ausgrid. The report identified power stations in NSW containing exposed asbestos and described them as being in a “poor” condition.
Airborne asbestos fibres, when inhaled, can lead to asbestos-related conditions such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Due to the latency period between exposure to asbestos and contraction of an asbestos-related condition, the hazard can be difficult to identify.
The information used by the New South Wales Electrical Trades Union was apparently sourced from Ausgrid’s own report on NSW substations on the central Coast.
Trevor Armstrong, CEO of Ausgrid, claims that the information used in the report identifying the asbestos danger was published over ten years ago. Says Armstrong, “Ausgrid took the safe steps needed to clean any asbestos material that was deemed a health risk”.
He further dismisses asbestos claims saying, “The material published in media reports was from 2002. Over the past 12 months independent hygienist reports have been undertaken showing the substations are safe.”.
Armstrong pointed to two examples used in the report, Wyong and Charmhaven, which were constructed in 2001 without asbestos. Subsequent audits in 2009 and 2012 confirmed that there was no asbestos present.
The six other substations were inspected for friable asbestos by an independent professional hygienist within the last 12 months. No friable asbestos was found in any of the eight identified substations in NSW.
One station however did have a broken fibro roof, potentially exposing workers to asbestos. However the asbestos has been removed. “Ausgrid has been working for more than 10 years to identify the areas where asbestos was present … and to safely remove it,” says Armstrong.
Mesothelioma compensation is available in NSW, Victoria and South Australia under legislation allowing those suffering from asbestos-related conditions to pursue an asbestos compensation claim. Power station workers in the past have made such claims.
