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The Canberra Liberals have called on the ACT government to protect workers from dangerous silica dust particles during the Gungahlin Leisure Centre 50-metre pool repairs after new documents revealed concerns about the dust during previous remediation works. In the coming weeks $1.5 million remediation works are set to begin on the pool, which will see every tile removed and replaced. WorkSafe ACT inspectors went the pool in July 2019, after there were reports about large amounts of dust that came from tiling work in the pool area and it was thought silica could be involved. But inspectors found no evidence of exposure at the time of the inspection and that silica dust was not being generated from the work that was being undertaken. However, a WorkSafe ACT spokeswoman said it was undetermined whether any worker had been exposed to silica dust, as there had been previous work where dust had been generated that was not observed by the WorkSafe inspector. The watchdog can only comment on what it has observed. Freedom of information documents have also revealed there were tile troubles at the pool in 2019 – one year before the pool was forced to close after tiles started to fall off. During the 2019 works, it was discovered there were 420 tiles that were considered to be drummy, which is about 1 per cent of all the tiles in the pool. Drummy refers to the hollow, drum-like sound that can come from a tile when hit with a sounding tool. As well, a consultant, whose name was redacted, raised concerns about the pool being left empty during the 2019 repairs. “Leaving pools empty in a warm indoor environment can and has in the past caused tiles to become drummy,” the consultant said. “Maybe the floor should have been covered with wetted hessian to limit this drying out but hindsight is a wonderful thing. “It’s certainly a good thing that the pool now has water in it and will help rehydrate the structure to limit further tile failures.” The 50-metre pool has been the subject of a long-running saga, after it was forced to shut due to problem tiles. The $28.7 million Gungahlin Leisure Centre only opened in 2014. The pool has been closed for the past year. It was initially closed due to the coronavirus lockdown but in June tiles started to fall off. A six-month investigation into the cause of the problem tiles was inconclusive. As a result, the pool’s builder, ADCO Constructions, was not deemed responsible for fixing the tiles and the ACT government accepted a $400,000 payout to cut ties with the company. The taxpayer was left to fork out most of the pool’s repair costs at $1.5 million. Liberal MLA Leanne Castley, who is a member for the Gungahlin-based seat of Yerrabi, sought the freedom of information request. She said she had serious concerns and wanted answers from the government that workers would be safe during the upcoming repairs. “Sports Minister Yvette Berry must immediately explain what’s been going on and guarantee that no worker has been or will be exposed to silica dust,” she said. “This is particularly urgent because the government has just signed on with construction company Kynetic to fix the pool which will see big teams of workers on site.” READ MORE: As part of the Labor-Greens parliamentary agreement, the parties have committed to introducing stronger workplace regulations to protect tradespeople who are exposed to the dust. An ACT government spokeswoman said the government took the issue seriously and would introduce regulations under legislation to protect tradespeople from dust. She said Workplace Safety Minister Mick Gentleman wanted to ensure all workplaces had silicosis management plans in place. “The Work Health and Safety Council has a dedicated silica subcommittee, which the Minister has tasked with, among other things, investigating options for mandatory silica training similar to programs already in place for asbestos awareness training,” she said. Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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The Canberra Liberals have called on the ACT government to protect workers from dangerous silica dust particles during the Gungahlin Leisure Centre 50-metre pool repairs after new documents revealed concerns about the dust during previous remediation works.
WorkSafe ACT inspectors went the pool in July 2019, after there were reports about large amounts of dust that came from tiling work in the pool area and it was thought silica could be involved.
But inspectors found no evidence of exposure at the time of the inspection and that silica dust was not being generated from the work that was being undertaken.
However, a WorkSafe ACT spokeswoman said it was undetermined whether any worker had been exposed to silica dust, as there had been previous work where dust had been generated that was not observed by the WorkSafe inspector.
The watchdog can only comment on what it has observed.
Freedom of information documents have also revealed there were tile troubles at the pool in 2019 – one year before the pool was forced to close after tiles started to fall off.
During the 2019 works, it was discovered there were 420 tiles that were considered to be drummy, which is about 1 per cent of all the tiles in the pool. Drummy refers to the hollow, drum-like sound that can come from a tile when hit with a sounding tool.
As well, a consultant, whose name was redacted, raised concerns about the pool being left empty during the 2019 repairs.
“Leaving pools empty in a warm indoor environment can and has in the past caused tiles to become drummy,” the consultant said.
“Maybe the floor should have been covered with wetted hessian to limit this drying out but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
“It’s certainly a good thing that the pool now has water in it and will help rehydrate the structure to limit further tile failures.”
The 50-metre pool has been the subject of a long-running saga, after it was forced to shut due to problem tiles. The $28.7 million Gungahlin Leisure Centre only opened in 2014.
The pool has been closed for the past year. It was initially closed due to the coronavirus lockdown but in June tiles started to fall off. A six-month investigation into the cause of the problem tiles was inconclusive.
The taxpayer was left to fork out most of the pool’s repair costs at $1.5 million.
The current state of Gungahlin Leisure Centre pool which remains empty with many repairs to be made. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos
Liberal MLA Leanne Castley, who is a member for the Gungahlin-based seat of Yerrabi, sought the freedom of information request.
She said she had serious concerns and wanted answers from the government that workers would be safe during the upcoming repairs.
“Sports Minister Yvette Berry must immediately explain what’s been going on and guarantee that no worker has been or will be exposed to silica dust,” she said.
“This is particularly urgent because the government has just signed on with construction company Kynetic to fix the pool which will see big teams of workers on site.”
As part of the Labor-Greens parliamentary agreement, the parties have committed to introducing stronger workplace regulations to protect tradespeople who are exposed to the dust.
An ACT government spokeswoman said the government took the issue seriously and would introduce regulations under legislation to protect tradespeople from dust.
She said Workplace Safety Minister Mick Gentleman wanted to ensure all workplaces had silicosis management plans in place.
“The Work Health and Safety Council has a dedicated silica subcommittee, which the Minister has tasked with, among other things, investigating options for mandatory silica training similar to programs already in place for asbestos awareness training,” she said.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
