Thirty three Blue Mountains Council vehicles were black banned by the union last Tuesday after concerns were raised by workers at the Lawson and Springwood council depots that they had been contaminated by asbestos. Council was forced to hire additional vehicles and a private asbestos testing group Airsafe was called in to investigate.
While the trucks, excavators and bobcats were back on the road by Friday, having been given the all clear, some 10 staff have now formally lodged grievances against council, through the United Services Union, after concerns about alleged exposure to asbestos at the Lawson council depot site in Park Street.
The union and the workers have asked for an independent inquiry into the matter and will have a meeting with council about the matter next week.
The action allegedly relates to the removal of asbestos material late last year from the Mechanics Institute carpark at Lawson. The material was allegedly transported to a stockpile site in Lawson’s industrial area. One source told the Gazette the material had also allegedly been used for training exercises for younger council workers, who were lifting it in and out of vehicles.
That source told the Gazette “staff are going to their doctors and getting tests done ... it’s an ongoing issue, it’s only because the union stepped in that they [council] made an Asbestos Management Plan”.
A confidential council document from May this year, leaked to the Gazette revealed there were asbestos issues in 19 council-owned buildings. Council responded at the time by explaining staff safety was paramount, they had recently become aware of gaps in their system and the Asbestos Containing Material [ACM] was being managed appropriately.
United Services Union acting general secretary Steve Donley said it was a “serious problem”.
A council spokeswoman confirmed the fleet vehicles were removed from service “as a precautionary measure” and tested, cleared and returned to service within 48 hours.
“Our focus is now on the remediation of the Lawson site,” she said.
“No contaminated material has been removed from the Lawson site. As a precautionary measure, the non contaminated material removed from the Lawson site has been tested, returning a negative result,” she added.
The union put in formal notices to council in the last week about “contaminated material” and gaps in communication between management and workers. They had also contacted SafeWork NSW and an inspector had interviewed staff.
The union told the Gazette Airsafe told council to close down the Lawson depot site. It was now closed but the union wanted to know how long council knew about problems at the site before informing the workers.
“We haven't been able to verify the timelines,” Mr Donley said.
“There’s a lot of people who are very upset about it and of course I am too. If council did know about [Lawson stockpile], that’s the biggest problem,” Mr Donley said. The union claims that “at least two of the [five] mounds in Lawson had contaminated material.”
He added absestos was “a long term problem” and health problems might not show up for 10 years. Workers would need to be tested every six to 12 months on an ongoing basis.
Greens Councillor Kerry Brown said she would be raising the matter at next week’s council. “I’m as upset as everyone else”.
“This is a warning that we still have some serious work to do on asbestos and risk management. I will be putting a notice of motion to council. The law requires council’s strategic planning to include proactive and effective management of risks to staff and the community,” she said.
The Lawson site is closed while the investigation takes place. Airsafe general manager Simon Gorham said the company was “bound by confidentiality” and would not comment on results of the testing or other work completed for council.
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The council spokeswoman’s full statement is as follows:
“In response to your enquiry regarding the management of asbestos containing material at the Council’s depot in Park St Lawson, I can advise the following:
· Council is guided by its Asbestos Management Plan, as well as advice provided by SafeWork NSW and fully accredited independent experts, in its ongoing management of asbestos in Council-owned buildings and facilities. The Asbestos Management Plan was developed in close consultation with SafeWork, an independent specialist and a large number of Council staff. The Asbestos Management Plan is endorsed by SafeWork NSW.
· Council has worked to improve the overall management of asbestos in Council-owned facilities as a priority in recent months.
· Council is currently investigating the presence of asbestos containing material in some of the stockpiles located on the Council-managed depot in Park St Lawson.
· The source of the material was the vacant land adjacent to the Lawson Mechanics Institute, on which the new carpark was recently constructed. Not from the Lawson Mechanics Institute building upgrade.
· The BMCC site in Park St Lawson is closed while the investigation takes place.
· No contaminated material has been removed from the Lawson site. As a precautionary measure, the non-contaminated material removed from the Lawson site has been tested, returning a negative result.
· 33 fleet vehicles were removed from service on Tuesday 31 October for testing as a precautionary measure. These vehicles were tested and cleared and returned to service within 48 hours.
· This investigation is part of Council’s ongoing management of asbestos in accordance with its policy and procedures and in consultation with SafeWork NSW.
· Council has engaged the services of an independent expert to assist with the investigation.
· Relevant staff have been informed and Councillors have been briefed on this matter.
· Council is progressing the investigation with SafeWork NSW and relevant union.
· Council is taking a precautionary approach to the investigation in the interest of public and workplace health and safety. The safety, health and wellbeing of our community and our employees are paramount and we take the matter of asbestos management seriously.
· Our focus is now on the remediation of the Lawson site.
· Council is not aware of a Councillor Notice of Motion on the subject of asbestos management at the Lawson site.
· With reference to the comment from your previous story in July 2017, Council stands by its statement. Council has addressed all immediate actions identified in the Centium report to address gaps in the Asbestos Register documentation and to minimise/eliminate the risk of exposure to asbestos containing material by way of appropriate detection, remediation or and removal in those locations requiring such action. Council acted in a timely and appropriate manner to the satisfaction of SafeWork and an independent, expert consultant.
· The need to identify and manage asbestos containing material is a challenge faced by Councils across NSW. As matters of potential asbestos containing material are progressively raised, Council will continue to respond appropriately in accordance with its Asbestos Management Plan and procedures and take the necessary steps to address the issue and to minimise risks as a matter of urgency.”
