Published: 17 Aug 2017
One of the Victorian Government’s flagship projects has been shaken by large-scale asbestos exposure and contamination that has put workers and the community in serious danger.
The Victorian Government’s Chandler Highway project has been shut down and now faces protracted delays following asbestos contamination and exposure that has been caused by the lead contractor, Seymour Whyte.
Early works conducted by Seymour Whyte on the widening project have exposed large quantities of contaminated earth. The exposure of asbestos contaminated soil has shut down neighbouring work on the demolition of the old Australian Paper Mill and the construction of a residential tower that will sit adjacent to the highway.
Worryingly for workers, local residents and passing motorists, the asbestos contaminated soil that has been exposed is in the more lethal friable form. Yesterday’s strong winds may have also escalated the threat.
Both companies operating on the adjourning sites were in the process of careful site remediation due to the acknowledged contamination. It appears that Seymour Whyte were aware of the contamination prior to beginning the earth works.
CFMEU Safety Team head, Doctor Gerry Ayers said the CFMEU was shocked by the brazen actions by Seymour Whyte.
“Seymour Whyte has acted with a flagrant disregard for safety. The disturbance of the contaminated earth in this manner is a serious breach of basic industry and OHS standards. It is completely unacceptable that a company the size of Seymour Whyte would act in such a hazardous and reckless way. The taxpayer is funding this project and the least they can expect is that workers and the community are kept safe. I can’t remember when I last saw such a brazen act that had the capacity to put so many lives in danger,” said Mr Ayers.
CFMEU Assistant Secretary Shaun Reardon said it was time WorkSafe took responsibility for the shocking decline in safety standards across major projects in Victoria.
“The fact that we’re seeing serious safety failures of this scale on major government projects is shocking. For too long now WorkSafe’s hierarchy has been asleep at the wheel. These failures are just going to keep happening unless the safety regulator steps up and does their job of protecting Victorians,” Mr Reardon said.
The exposure of asbestos contaminated soil on the Chandler Highway project comes shortly after the revelations about Seymour Whyte’s role in the Swan St Bridge cost and time blowouts.
“The State Government has a major problem here. If they continue to use dodgy contractors on these major projects, those same dodgy contractors are going to continue to bring their appalling safety practices with them. The taxpayer will bear the cost, while workers and the community will continue to be put at risk,” Mr Reardon said.