Lead poisoning at AGL Torrens Island Power Station sparks SafeWork SA investigation

This photo of hundreds of raw cut lead cables has uncovered a serious health crisis for workers at AGL’s Torren Island plant. Find out why.

Four workers – including Sean Gibbons (pictured) – from AGL’s Torrens Island Power Station have come forward with symptoms of lead poisoning, but there are fears of site-wide cross-contamination. Picture: Tom Huntley

Four workers at AGL’s Torrens Island plant have suffered lead poisoning, sparking a watchdog investigation to determine if the company breached workplace safety laws.

Over the past 18 months, the exposed workers have come forward with debilitating symptoms with one still unable to return to work.

The Advertiser understands none of the four workers – plus another three who were also working high-risk operations that involved cutting into lead cables – were instructed to wear personal protective equipment (PPE)or required to have their clothing decontaminated before returning home.

Sean Gibbons was struck down with lead poisoning last year while working at AGL’s Torrens Island Power Station. Picture: Tom Huntley

Independent testing commissioned by AGL at the affected site in the turbine hall found lead levels 15,000 times higher than US Environmental Protection Agency standards, with the workers’ union CEPU demanding site-wide cleaning over fears of cross-contamination.

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.

One station returned readings as high as 12,000 micrograms.

SafeWork SA confirmed investigations are ongoing but could not comment further while they were underway.

AGL contractor Sean Gibbons started working in the turbine hall in early 2023 and said 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.”

Videos seen by The Advertiser show unmasked workers using explosive cable spiking and power saws on the lead transmission cables to remove them, spraying dust into the confined space.

Mr Gibbons said this was done “hundreds” oftimes but the company never issued him PPE and did not carry out blood testing, even though it identified lead work as a health risk in 2013 according to internal documents.

The lead transmission cables shown here were torn out and handled by workers at AGL's Torrens Island Power Station without protective clothing. Picture: Supplied

AGL also had no lead work procedure for the site until this year,despite its Macquarie station having one since 2019.

“It was something I couldn’t talk about with my partner because I knew it was something she couldn’t understand … some people are just, get on with it, but there are principles for this sort of stuff,” Mr Gibbons said.

Although AGL has paid to clean his house and car at least three times, lead is still present and the company told him it was now his permanent employer’s obligation.

“What am I supposed to do, keep lining my car and throwing it out every time I want to use it?” Mr Gibbons said.

“We were all under their remit and took it for granted that everything would be safe because we thought they had this culture of safety.”

Union organiser Max Mawby (left) said he was frustrated by the pace of SafeWork SA’s investigation 10 months on. Picture: Tom Huntley

An AGL spokesman said when hazards were identified last year, “work was ceased and monitoring of the work area and exposure level assessment was conducted”.

“Developed by an independent certified industrial hygienist, AGL has issued new Safe Work instructions specific to the hazards associated with handling of lead cables,” the spokesman said.

“AGL reported the incident to SafeWork SA and continues to engage and work with SafeWork SA and the Communications, Electrical, Energy and Plumbing Union.”

CEPU SA representative Max Mawby said the new guidelines were “inadequate”, requiring only a visual inspection for dust where contamination is suspected, but no further testing.

He also expressed frustration at the pace of SafeWork SA’s investigations of the site, which began nearly a year ago with no compliance actions yet.

Originally published as Lead poisoning at AGL Torrens Island Power Station sparks SafeWork SA investigation