The CEPU SA has welcomed the news that SafeWork SA has lodged criminal proceedings against AGL Torrens Island Pty Limited in the South Australian Employment Court on 16 May 2025.
- Workers were poisoned by lead at AGL Torrens Island Power station in South Australia between October 2022 and April 2023 as part of decommissioning works inside the A-Station turbine hall.
- Lead exposure risk was discovered after testing was conducted by an external company on fire retardant paint on lead cables, that indicated the presence lead.
- Workers were completely unaware that they were being exposed to lead and the health impacts of lead poisoning.
- AGL failed to follow the SA Work Health and Safety Act and specific WHS lead Regulations. AGL failed to recognise the lead risk posed by the work being conducted. AGL failed to provide safe systems of work and take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of workers.
Workers experienced symptoms such as chronic fatigue, lethargy, headaches, nausea, vomiting, pins and needles in the arms and legs, sudden weight loss, insomnia, weakness, forgetfulness & constipation with no apparent cause.
Blood testing revealed these workers had been poisoned by lead.
“This case really highlights the fact that lead, as a neurotoxin has been widely forgotten about in most workplaces. CEPU members were poisoned by this very dangerous element because lead mimics calcium in the human body which, even at low levels causes very serious and long-term issues, it causes brain, heart, kidney, reproductive and liver damage. Lead even stores in the bones for decades which can cause secondary lead poisoning later in life. Workers need stronger lead regulations which we are currently working to change” – CEPU SA Power Industry Organiser, Max Mawby.
The CEPU have ongoing concerns about lead dust contamination across the whole of the Torrens Island Power Station site. Testing by the union has confirmed lead contamination on Torrens Island and the union is concerned that no control measures have been instituted to prevent this contamination leaving the Island.
SafeWork SA has charged AGL Torrens Island Pty Limited with a Category 2 offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.
The maximum penalty for a Category 2 offence for a body corporate is $1.5 million.
“We welcome the news that SafeWork SA have acted to prosecute AGL in this case, the union has pursued this issue over the last 2 years. It finally feels like justice will be served. We welcome the maximum penalty being applied to AGL in this instance. Whilst we realise $1.5M is spare change to a company like AGL, it sends a message to employers that need to take active and appropriate measure to keep workers safe.” – CEPU SA Secretary, John Adley
You can read previous more about the campaign here