Asbestos found in NSW Central Coast Electricity Substations

In the Central Coast of NSW asbestos has been discovered in eight electricity substations that have been described as being in a “poor” condition. Major surface damage increases the risk of exposure to asbestos which may lead to conditions such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.

While asbestos is present in other electricity substations across NSW, they remain bonded and do not exacerbate the risk of employees contracting mesothelioma.

The Electrical Trades Union has released documents that reveal 49 documented cases of asbestos-related illness in Ausgrid employees in 22 years. However due to the latency period between exposure to asbestos and contraction of mesothelioma it is difficult to identify how many electrical trades workers in Australia have been exposed to asbestos and may contract an asbestos-related illness in the future.

Much to the dismay of Union secretary Steve Butler, asbestos removal programs have been suspended due to reluctance from companies to pay overtime. This is in spite of documents released indicating the presence of dangerous “friable” asbestos.

Says Steve Bulter, “At least two people are developing either mesothelioma or asbestosis at Ausgrid each year and the number is likely to rise.”

While the NSW government has acknowledged the need for an audit, a full-scale removal of all asbestos has been called for by the union.

Mesothelioma compensation is available throughout Australia, and electrical workers in NSW have pursued asbestos claims in NSW in the past.

Canberra asbestos concern

Talks between Canberra and the Commonwealth to try and resolve Canberra’s buried asbestos have failed. With neither accepting responsibility nor the clean up bill for asbestos that has been buried for decades across more then 100 sites in Canberra.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher is placing pressure on Julia Gillard to get involved; believing that the Commonwealth of Australia has a moral and financial responsibility to the people of Canberra to clean up sites that were contaminated with asbestos prior to Canberra becoming its own government.

One site that is of major concern for Canberra is the East Lake development at Kingston, it has been reported that there is over 600,000 cubic metres of asbestos polluted soil here mostly as a result of the construction of Parliament House. The Commonwealth has refused to assist in the clean up, which is estimated to cost $90 million dollars; they believe because the ownership of the land was transferred to Canberra upon self-government and it is their responsibility.

The removal of asbestos in all Australian states is vital in the battle against asbestos-related diseases as even minimal exposure to asbestos can lead to an individual contracting mesothelioma. Legislation is in place to assist people with Australian asbestos compensation claims, including mesothelioma compensation claims, however if effective asbestos removal was undertaken these people may not need such help.

James Hardie Victims Outraged

Australian asbestos victims are outraged at the High Court of Australia’s decision to reduce the penalties of the former James Hardie directors.

The NSW Supreme Court originally banned the former James Hardie directors from managing companies, after they were found to have breached their duties by releasing misleading information about an asbestos fund.

According to the ABC, the former James Hardie executives and directors misled investors with a press release that claimed an asbestos compensation fund was “fully funded” to meet claims against it.

The original disqualification period from the NSW Supreme Court was five years for the non-executive directors, which has now been reduced after the consideration of mitigating circumstances such as their contributions to the community and qualified contrition.

However for people who are now suffering asbestos diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma as a result of James Hardie’s products, the ruling is unjust and offensive. James Hardie not only knowingly exposed these victims to asbestos, a known carcinogen, but then made misleading statements about the asbestos compensation fund.

Australia currently has one of the highest incidences of mesothelioma despite the official ban of asbestos use Australia-wide in 2004. This is because Australia was the highest user of asbestos per capita between around 1950 and 1980.

As such, many Australian states including NSW, Victoria and South Australia have introduced legislation to assist those suffering asbestos conditions pursue an asbestos compensation claim. An example can be found in the South Australian legislation. Asbestos claims in South Australia, such as mesothelioma compensation in South Australia, are assisted specifically by legislation introduced by the South Australian Government.

NSW plans for asbestos removal

Australian workers in the electrical industry are celebrating following the successful push from Unions NSW and the ETU for an industry-wide audit of asbestos.

The NSW unions met with the NSW government and also representatives from Ausgrid Essential Energy and Endeavour Energy last Thursday, after the union apparently revealed 49 cases of asbestos-related disease at electricity company Ausgrid.

The parties met to discuss concerns about asbestos in the Australian energy industry, and the fact that Australian staff are potentially being exposed to asbestos fibres and could be at risk of developing an asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.

The NSW government accepted the priority of asbestos safety in Australian workplaces, and will shortly undertake an industry-wide audit of asbestos, to be chaired by WorkCover NSW.
Unfortunately, because of the long latency period between asbestos exposure and the manifestation of an asbestos related disease, there is no way to tell how many Australian workers have already been exposed to asbestos, or whether they will develop an asbestos related disease in the future.
However many Australian states including NSW, Victoria and South Australia have introduced legislation to assist those suffering asbestos conditions pursue an asbestos compensation claim, such as mesothelioma compensation claims in NSW.