Wind turbine asbestos threat ‘low risk’, says Chinese maker

Wind farm developer Goldwind Australia has discovered asbestos in brake pads supplied by Chinese manufacturer 3S Industry, affecting multiple sites across three states.

A Goldwind turbine installed at Cattle Hill Wind Farm in Tasmania.

Wind farm developer Goldwind Australia has claimed asbestos discovered in a wind turbine component posed a “very low” risk to workers, as state regulators and renewable developers continue work to determine the full extent of the problem.

Goldwind Australia found ­asbestos in spare brake pads used for internal lifts in its turbines at the 48-turbine Cattle Hill wind farm in Tasmania’s central highlands on November 10.

A spokesperson said the parts were supplied by a third-party manufacturer, 3S Industry, a major China-based supplier.

“Goldwind has shared this ­information with other ­companies in the industry, as 3S Industry supplies to a range of industrial customers,’’ the spokesperson said.

Regulators are refusing to identify impacted sites and at this stage it’s believed a number of Victorian wind farms are ­affected along with the Biala ­operation in the NSW southern tablelands and the Tas­manian site.

Insiders said 3S Industry was a major supplier of the component and the problem was expected to be more widespread than the currently known cases.

There is no suggestion of ­environmental contamination or public health risk, and the threat to workers is considered to be low.

“Independent occupational hygienists have assessed the ­occupational health risk to be very low,’’ the Goldwind spokesperson said.

It’s the second asbestos case in recent weeks after low levels of the contaminant were found in coloured sand products used in children’s play, prompting a major recall and calls for a wider inquiry into how the products were imported into Australia.

Australian Border Force said Australia is one of the few countries in the Asia/Pacific region that has a ban on all six types of asbestos – products containing the hazardous material have been banned in this country since 2003.

The Goldwind spokesperson said the brake pad was small enough to fit in one hand and was replaceable.

“A program of comprehensive checks is underway, with replacement works planned. Access to turbines that use 3S ­Industry-supplied components has been restricted to sampling activities using appropriate ­personal protective equipment as advised by expert occupational hygienists,’’ the spokesperson said.

Goldwind Australia is a subsidiary of the global Chinese wind turbine giant, Goldwind Science and Technology.

Its projects include one of the country’s largest wind farms, Squadron Energy’s Clarke Creek operation northwest of Rockhampton. Squadron refused to comment on the matter on Monday.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland said it was making inquiries about possible asbestos materials in wind turbines in the state.

In NSW, the regulator said it was aware asbestos had been found at a number of wind farm sites around the country, but refused to say how many had been identified in the state.

“SafeWork NSW has commenced inquiries with the businesses involved which are ongoing.”