Electricians Exposed To Asbestos While Working On Sydney Opera House Renovations

Two months after asbestos was first identified in the service ducts of the Sydney Opera House, more than 30 electricians have walked off the job following the confirmation that loose fibres were still present in their work areas.

As ABC reports, the Electrical Trades Union claims 25 workers were exposed to asbestos while installing cabling in the historic building as part of a $200 million renovation job, with 35 refusing to continue to work as a result of the confirmation that collected samples contained the fibres.

According to ETU secretary Dave McKinley, in the wake of the original discovery, construction company Laing O'Rourke was given seven days by SafeWork NSW to remove the asbestos or otherwise neutralise the risk of exposure to the workers.

However, he said, "Electricians yesterday raised the alarm that they were again being exposed to loose asbestos fibres, which has now been confirmed by scientific testing."

The ETU is now seeking an investigation and prohibition notice to ensure the asbestos is removed before work resumes.