Australian Workers Potentially Exposed to Chinese Asbestos

The Australian Workers’ Union is demanding a review of whether workers were exposed to asbestos fibers from 10-metre high heat exchanger tubes, which were delivered to Port Pirie from China. The work site has been shut down while the risks of exposure are assessed and cleared. AWU National Secretary Scott McDine said a full inquiry into the incident was necessary, stating “we need to find out how on earth a contractor thought it was appropriate to deliver an asbestos-laden piece of equipment to an Australian site. The question remains, was the Chinese company aware of Australian standards, and if so, did they intentionally disregard them? McDine believes workers have a right to know. Read more here.