SafeWork SA investigating discovery of asbestos fibres in Nyrstar smelter redevelopment
UPDATED: ASBESTOS fibres have been found in equipment imported to Port Pirie’s Nyrstar lead smelter, prompting calls for the Federal Government to tighten screening of imported products.
ASBESTOS fibres have been found in equipment imported to Port Pirie’s Nyrstar lead smelter, prompting calls for the Federal Government to tighten screening of imported products.
The exposed friable asbestos fibres were found in a plaster coating on eight 10m-high metal heat exchanger tubes imported from China.
They are used in the acid plant section of the smelter which is undergoing a major upgrade.
Employees working in the area were wearing protective equipment to guard against lead contamination, which authorities say may have also protected them from the asbestos fibres.
Inhaling the fibres can lead to mesothelioma, a deadly disease which affects the lungs.
A SafeWork SA investigation is underway.
Authorities do not believe anyone in the wider Port Pirie community would be affected.
Industrial Relations Minister John Rau said it was the responsibility of the federal Border Force to prevent the importation of asbestos — which has been banned since 2003.
Mr Rau has written to Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton calling for more random testing of imported products to check for asbestos and surveillance targeting imports from countries with a known history of asbestos contamination.
He described the discovery of the dangerous material as “appalling”.
“It is not acceptable to expose any workers to this risk,” Mr Rau said.
A spokeswoman for Nyrstar said it was “investigating the circumstances which led to asbestos being used”.
“Nyrstar’s contract with the supplier of the acid plant explicitly prohibited the use of asbestos in the equipment,” the spokeswoman said.
“Areas containing asbestos have been sprayed with a soluble adhesive and wrapped with a plastic sheeting to prevent any spreading of the material.
“The health and safety of Nyrstar employees remains our highest priority and we will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide regular updates.”
Australian Workers’ Union national secretary Scott McDine called for an inquiry “to find out how on earth a contractor thought it was appropriate to deliver an asbestos-laden piece of equipment to an Australian site”.
“How can a 10m-high cylinder containing significant amounts of asbestos be allowed through our borders?” he said.
“Border security needs proper resourcing to keep Australians safe from asbestos-related disease.”
Senator Nick Xenophon has called for an audit of building products imported to Australia in the past five years to ensure no other asbestos has entered the country.
“Whatever we are doing now is not working and is putting Australians at risk for many years to come, given the 50-year latency period before a deadly asbestos disease can strike after initial exposure,” Mr Xenophon said.
Nyrstar informed SafeWork SA of the discovery on August 12.
Mr Rau said he was told yesterday.
SafeWork SA executive director Marie Boland said it was the fourth report of asbestos found in South Australia in recent months.
The deadly material has also been found in products on construction sites, portable camp buildings and flooring.
Ms Boland said the exposed fibres had been contained and the work space shut down.
Border Force officers will investigate whether Nyrstar followed proper policy when importing the equipment over the past year.
The company could face prosecution or penalty.
It has hired an independent expert to consult on removal of the asbestos.
Port Pirie’s ageing lead and zinc smelter is undergoing a $563 million redevelopment to transform the plant into a more modern multi-metals processing facility.
Mr Rau said the importation of asbestos was “not acceptable for the community of Port Pirie, who are relying on the redevelopment project to rejuvenate employment”.