The AMWU has welcomed the recent Fair Work Australia decision to allow workers at the Muja A Power Station to clean and test work areas for asbestos, after safety concerns were raised by the AMWU.
Employees at Muja A Power Station have been refusing to work in areas where they believed they were at imminent risk until swab testing for hazardous materials were conducted.
The contractor United Group has refused to carry out swab tests for two weeks, and instead sought orders to force a return to work from Fair Work Australia.
"AMWU members decided that the result was not a solution and that Muja A was still an unsafe workplace. They instead wanted a long-term solution to the asbestos issue so work could continue at Muja A," AMWU State Secretary Steve McCartney said.
"The AMWU sought an urgent conference with the Fair Work Commission to discuss long term solutions to the asbestos problem at Muja A. The Commission agreed with the AMWU concerns and have implemented satisfactory outcomes."
The Fair Work Commission’s terms of adjournment included:
- Cleaning of areas assessed as a risk by workers
- Appropriate Verve Energy Suspect Material Procedures to be followed
- Swab testing of areas of concern
"Verve Energy and its contractors should look for solutions to OHS issues within its own disputes procedure and with Work Safe instead of Fair Work Australia Commission," Steve McCartney said.
"This has been a dark day for Verve and the State Government – they have allowed legitimate asbestos safety issues to be ignored by United Group."
"Our members understand the risks that come with asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. They now have renewed confidence that they can work in a safe and asbestos free environment."