Asbestos discovery linked to Brisbane company that worked on new RAH and SAHMRI sites
ASBESTOS used in a major Brisbane construction site leading to its closure, was supplied by the same company which worked on two key government-funded building projects in Adelaide.
ASBESTOS used in a major Brisbane construction site leading to its closure, was supplied by the same company which worked on two key government-funded building projects in Adelaide.
The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union has issued a national alert over potential asbestos contamination after revelations that tainted building material, installed by Chinese company Yuanda, had been discovered on a site in Brisbane’s CBD.
In April 2013, Yuanda won $85 million worth of contracts on the SA Health and Medical Research Institute, installing the pine cone skin-inspired facade of the SAHMRI, and the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.
CFMEU SA secretary Aaron Cartledge said his union was “highly suspicious” the gasket product, imported from China and found to contain asbestos, had been used in Adelaide.
“We are calling for a thorough assessment of all these projects where Yuanda worked to see if this particular product was used,” he said.
“Only then we work out where we can go. With a brand new hospital you wouldn’t want any asbestos in that build.
“It’s going to be a big decision either way for someone to say it’s all safe or to say look we’ve got to pull it all out.”
Mr Cartledge said SafeWork SA must be involved in the review of all building works.
Yuanda also worked on the City Central Tower 8 in Franklin Street, Illumin8 building at the Adelaide University and the People’s Choice Credit Union building in Flinders Street.
In a rapid response, SA Health Partnership, responsible for the nRAH project, has rejected the asbestos-tainted gaskets were used in the building of the $2 billion project.
“SAHP acknowledges recent media interest in an office tower currently under construction in Brisbane, and the use of materials containing asbestos on that specific construction site and in particular the use of a brand-named welding product,” SAHP chief executive, Duncan Jewell, said.
“It is a project requirement that the details of all products and specifications used by each contractor/subcontractor are provided to the builder, and are recorded accordingly.
“The builder has confirmed to SAHP that the products used on the Brisbane Tower have not been used on the new Royal Adelaide Hospital Project.”
A spokeswoman for SAHMRI said they had checked their records of all products used by Yuanda.
“We are confident the product in question has not been used on our building,” she said.
“We received an International gold star rating for the building and we would not have received that if there had been any issues with products used.”
The asbestos product in Brisabane was discovered by a union delegate during construction of the Queensland Government’s 41-storey skyscraper, which will be the city’s tallest building.
Hundreds of workers have been stood down at the site.
CFMEU national secretary Michael O’Connell said the union has been calling for action from the Federal Government on the importation of building material.
“There are growing fears about the importation of unsafe and poisonous building materials that pose a risk not only to workers, but to the community,” he said.
“This is a lethal product that has been proven to cause cancer. The use and importation of asbestos has been banned in this country since 2003 and the company has broken the law.
“We don’t muck around with this stuff and that’s why we have issued a national alert.
Early this year, it was revealed that asbestos contaminated materials found its way into the $290 million taxpayer funded project Seaford rail extension.
Opposition spokesman on Infrastructure and Transport David Pisoni said it was “completely unacceptable” rail workers were put at risk of exposure to mesothelioma by the use of “cut price Chinese imports.”
The Advertiser has asked the SA Government for comment.