SafeWork SA investigation has resulted in AGL Torrens Island being charged

It is alleged five workers suffered lead poisoning after the power station on Torrens Island failed to provide appropriate safety gear.

Charges have been laid against energy giant AGL Torrens Island for allegedly exposing five workers to “unsafe levels of lead” during the decommissioning of one of its power station.

SafeWork SA has lodged criminal proceedings against AGL Torrens Island Pty Limited in the South Australian Employment Court, following a lengthy and complex investigation.

It is understood AGL Torrens Island between October 2022 and April 2023, had engaged workers to decommission the ‘A’ power station, a task involving de-energising, or preparing to de-energise, cabling throughout the power station.

AGL Energy’s Torrens Island power station in South Australia.

During this process, workers were provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – but allegedly the gear did not include a full-face respirator.

Due to the incomplete protective gear, it allegedly exposed the workers to lead or lead dust.

As a result, five workers allegedly recorded an elevated blood lead level.

However, an AGL spokeswoman told The Advertiser they proactively raised the concern of high lead levels themselves in 2023.

“Health and safety is a core value of AGL and is an integral part of the way we work,” she said.

“AGL reported the event to SafeWork SA in May 2023 and has been working cooperatively with SafeWork SA.

“As this is an ongoing matter, AGL cannot comment further at this time.”

Sean Gibbons was struck down with lead poisoning because of alleged negligence by AGL while working at their Torrens Island plant. Picture: Tom Huntley

AGL Torrens Island has been charged with a Category 2 offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.

The maximum penalty for a Category 2 offence for a body corporate is $1.5 million.

This comes after The Advertiser reported in July 2024 four workers at AGL’s Torrens Island plant suffered lead poisoning, sparking watchdog investigations.

The independent testing at the affected site in the turbine hall - commissioned by AGL - found lead levels were 15,000 times higher than US Environmental Protection Agency standards.

While Australia has no regulations for lead on surfaces, anything above 1.08 micrograms per 100 sq/cm should be cleaned, according to the US standards.

However, one station returned readings as high as 12,000 micrograms.

Meanwhile, an AGL contractor Sean Gibbons who worked in the turbine hall in early 2023 claimed that after several weeks he started suffering from insomnia and fatigue.

“I was getting minimal sleep during the night – there were nights when I was getting about three hours,” the 55-year-old said.

“Even in May, three months after I stopped working, it was still like that, and that’s when I found out my levels were quite high.”