Australians Call for Audit of Asbestos Ship
October 9th, 2007
After finding yet more asbestos aboard a Chinese ship docked in the north Queensland city of Townsville, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITWF) has called for a full audit of asbestos for the cargo ship known as the Sea Sparkle.
The asbestos was found late last week on the Panamanian registered ship. It was detected by Australian workers at this busy little port town, but not after one crew of workers had already completed their shift aboard the Sea Sparkle, which has a crew of 27.
Work had resumed aboard the ship on Saturday, but was once again halted when workers found old and faulty cranes that probably contained asbestos. But Dean Summers, spokesperson for the ITWF, said that concern really lies with the safety on the Chinese crew aboard the ship.
In a report on Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) news, Summers told the media that the crew had been made to handle six bags of asbestos without the use of any sort of protective gear. The Chinese government, he adds, has not warned the crew of the risks associated with the dangerous mineral.
“We know this because there’s a notice [that has] been sent to us on Cosco [Shipyard Group] letterhead to say that asbestos is completely harmless,” he said.
“It is unbelievable, and even coming from China we would’ve expected the dangers of asbestos would be not only recognized and identified but prevented from coming into contact with their workers,” Summers added.
The ITWF has stepped up its involvement in the issue and ordered a string of different tests, says Summers.
“The International Transport Workers Federation has insisted to the Chinese company and to the Australian charterers that a full audit of asbestos be done on that ship,” he said. “That would include air testing, that the crew be X-rayed and put on a register and that a safety management procedure be put on board that vessel so that any hazardous conditions can be properly managed.”
