Five workers who were previously employed at the Katoomba tip in the Blue Mountains have spoken out, after they were exposed to asbestos-containing material during their employment. All five men spoke to the Blue Mountains Gazette and explained they will require lifetime screening for asbestos-related diseases.
Mick Breen from Katoomba said: “We were coming home [from work] covered in dust every day. My daughter would hug me and get it all over her. We have to worry for our families for the next 20 or 30 years.”
SafeWork NSW closed the tip in November of 2017 after an inspection.
Mr Breen said: “It’s in the back of your mind all the time. My anxiety levels went through the roof.”
Blue Mountains Council CEO Rosemary Dillon said the decision to close the tip had created fear among workers, which is unfounded.
“This is yet another example of how the politicisation of the safety regulator has led to an escalation of fear within our community, and for our staff and former staff.
“SafeWork’s unlawful and unreasonable processes continue to take a toll. I feel for all those who continue to feel the consequences of this sorry affair, including our former staff.”
Dr Dillon explained that independent testing conducted by experts had shown the site contained non-friable asbestos, which is less likely than friable asbestos to be released into the air, but does still pose some health risks.
“In the midst of the political and media-driven campaign, SafeWork directed the experts to change the results to friable. This resulted in remediation of the site that cost the community just under $5 million.”
Dr Dillon said, “contrary to what these workers are stating, actual testing of the sites on the Katoomba waste facility platform did not reveal any significant amounts of asbestos”.
“In addition, of the 200+ airborne asbestos samples that were continuously undertaken during the period immediately prior to, during and subsequent to the large scale removal of 13,568 cubic metres of material from the Katoomba waste facility platform, not a single positive sample was ever detected above normal background levels.”
The workers have explained that the only protective equipment worn while sorting the rubble was gloves, while council countered this claim and asserted that all staff had full PPE available at all times of their employment.
Dr Dillon said: “In the last three years, this organisation has had to endure continued and misleading statements as part of co-ordinated campaigns against the council.
She said residents “need to understand that Blue Mountains City Council continues to be the subject of concerted campaigns that are both local and political”.