Woodside rejects asbestos claim

Woodside Petroleum has rejected claims that its workers have been exposed to asbestos through gaskets, saying tests have confirmed the equipment did not contain the deadly material.

Yesterday, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union claimed that eight contractors at the Pluto gas project had been directly exposed to high levels of asbestos through imported grinding gaskets from the UK.

The union claimed that an unknown number of employees had also been indirectly exposed.

Woodside today said in a statement that following laboratory work, an independent authority confirmed the gaskets did not contain asbestos.

The company said it had informed workers of the test.

However, Woodside said there were some gaskets that have been identified as being made of compressed asbestos fibre.

"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 process," the company said.

"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."