Woodside Says Pluto LNG Workers Unexposed to Asbestos

Pluto Gas Field, Western Offshore Austra
(Click to Enlarge)

Woodside advises that workers at the Pluto LNG Project near Karratha have not been exposed to asbestos, despite some claims to the contrary.

Compressed fiber gaskets removed from the packaging of equipment imported from the United Kingdom, which were suspected by workers to have contained asbestos, have been confirmed not to contain asbestos. An independent National Association of Testing Authorities approved laboratory confirmed the gaskets did not contain asbestos. Yesterday the workers who handled the gaskets were advised that they have not been exposed to asbestos.

In a separate case, some other gaskets used in the packaging of equipment from overseas have been identified as being made of compressed asbestos fiber. These gaskets have not been disturbed, the areas have been quarantined and an investigation has been initiated in accordance with Woodside's standard safety and consultation processes. A licensed asbestos removal contractor is reviewing the remainder of the site, to identify and safely remove all compressed asbestos fibre gaskets. An industrial hygienist is continuing air monitoring and sampling of the potentially affected areas with no concerns identified to date.

Both the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union requested and were granted access to visit the site and continue to be provided with briefings on the project's response to the issue.