Asbestos contamination scare shuts down massive Queen’s Wharf site

Hundreds of workers downed tools on the $3.6b Queen’s Wharf project today after an urgent safety alert over asbestos. Test results have since returned no traces of the lethal material.

Queen’s Wharf builders Multiplex have recieved the all-clear from asbestos testing carried out at the massive site after a serious scare led to hundreds of workers downing tools.

Workers walked off the $3.6 billion project after an urgent safety alert went out about plaster sheeting which sources said has been used in areas including on-site lunch rooms.

It came after building products giant USG Boral advised customers on Monday that vermiculite imported from China to make fire-rated plasterboard had been found to contain ‘very low levels of asbestos contamination’.

At least one other major Queensland building project could also be affected.

According to an industry source, the product investigated may have been used as insulated panelling in lunch rooms at the Queen’s Wharf site that’s used by hundreds of workers daily.

“These lunch rooms aren’t three chairs and a microwave, they are industrial strength mess halls,” they said.

Cranes across the Brisbane skyline including the new Queen’s Wharf development, Brisbane. Image: Josh Woning

A worker, who was one of hundreds sent off the site on Tuesday morning, said he was told that Multiplex had closed the Queen’s Wharf site pending investigation into possible asbestos contamination.

“All we were told was that it could possibly be in a product that the gyprockers use,” said the person.

“I’m fairly sure this is just as a precaution and hopefully we’ll be back on site tomorrow.

“It’s very rare that a builder would shut the site so quickly, when it must cost them so much money, so full credit to them for looking after their workers’ safety.”

USG Boral said the asbestos was discovered as part of routine testing of a vermiculite sample at its Sydney manufacturing facility.

“In the past, we have used vermiculite imported from China as an ingredient in our fire-rated plasterboard products and we have a rigorous testing regime in place to check for any potential contamination of the raw materials we use, including the Vermiculite,” USG Boral’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Tony Charnock, told customers.

“During some recent routine tests carried out by an accredited laboratory on a sample of vermiculite used at our Camellia site in Sydney, very low levels of asbestos contamination were detected.

“It seems likely that this contamination occurred at the source of mining the vermiculite, but in any event occurred prior to delivery at our sites.

“Samples of vermiculite from our Port Melbourne and Pinkenba facilities were also tested at the same time but no traces of asbestos were found.

“As a result of this unexpected find, we have taken several immediate steps to ensure the ongoing safety of our products, and to protect our staff and customers.”

Mr Charnock said USG Boral had stopped using Chinese-sourced vermiculite and would be switching to other suppliers.

“Arrangements are being made for the safe removal of all unused Chinese-sourced vermiculite from our facilities at Camellia, Port Melbourne, and Pinkenba,” he said.

The Queens Wharf casino work site has been shut down. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

“Testing has commenced on our finished products made using vermiculite as an ingredient to check for any possible contamination. This will include testing on finished products manufactured at each of our sites, Camellia, Port Melbourne and Pinkenba.

“While those tests are being completed, stock will be quarantined. We believe our other products are NOT affected by this issue.”

Mr Charnock said he wanted to reassure customers that the levels of asbestos contamination found in the vermiculite ingredient was ‘very low ... and that only small amounts of vermiculite are used to make our products’.

“Nevertheless, we believe it is important for us to take this action and to provide you with this information, in line with our commitment to keeping our customers informed and updated of product developments,” he said.

“We are assessing how the above events will impact on supply of fire-rated products in the immediate period and will advise you at the earliest opportunity.”

Mr Charnock said customers should quarantine all USG Boral’s fire-rated plasterboard products ‘and refrain from installing, distributing or supplying them ... until we provide you with a further update this week’.

The Queen’s Wharf casino work site has been shut down. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

Peak building union the CFMEU said work had been suspended at a number of construction sites, with workers having ‘removed themselves from potential exposure to deadly asbestos fibres’.

The union said it was unclear how many sites were affected but USG Boral’s fire-rated plasterboard was used widely.

CFMEU assistant secretary Jade Ingham said it was not the first time that ‘cheap imported material’ had been found to be contaminated and caused major disruption to construction sites across the country.

“We have warned repeatedly that the use of cheap imports not subject to the same quality standards as Australian materials is a recipe for disaster,” Mr Ingham said.

“This again reinforces the case for more investment in local manufacturing which, as well as delivering Australian standards of quality and safety, also creates local jobs and helps protect us from the supply chain disruptions the industry is enduring at the moment.

“Quite simply there is no such thing as a ‘safe’ level of asbestos – a lethal material which has been completely banned in Australia for nearly 20 years.

“Safety of workers, and the general public, must always come first.”

“We received advice from Boral today that there may be some very low levels of asbestos in one of their products. This product has been used to a limited extent at Queen’s Wharf,” Multiplex director David Redding said in a statement.

“While the risk of contamination is extremely low, we have undertaken asbestos testing on site today to safeguard the safety of our workforce. We understand other sites are taking their own precautionary action.”

It was confirmed by 6pm that the test results turned up no traces of asbestos.