Asbestos found in China-sourced wind turbine parts – Daily Business

Asbestos has been discovered in at least 1,000 wind turbines across Britain following the import of components from China, it has been revealed.

The parts, contained in brakes used in lifts and hoists, are understood to have come from third-party Chinese suppliers and contain a white asbestos known as chrysotile.

The GMB union has written to the UK government and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) asking for a detailed account of a clean-up operation, which is now under way.

The type of asbestos has been completely banned in the UK since November 1999, making it illegal to buy, sell or export any materials with it, according to The Sunday Times which first reported the story.

Louise Gilmour, the secretary of GMB Scotland, told the newspaper: “Every one of the contracts sent abroad as operators chase the bottom line has cost our country jobs and apprenticeships. To discover we have been exporting skilled work while importing asbestos beggars belief.

“Our country banned asbestos decades ago because it was killing workers and their families, but we now pay for it to be ferried here from the other side of the world and then pay again to remove it?

“We deserve to be told exactly how this happened and what is being be done to prevent it happening again.”

There is no suggestion the lift suppliers or wind farm owners knew there was asbestos in the components when they were installed.

The Energy Institute, the membership body for professionals in the sector, said it was aware of the issue. “Industry reporting to date indicates that asbestos, where present, is confined within sealed brake housings, encapsulated, non?friable, and not generating airborne fibres under normal operating conditions,”it said.

“Working through member companies, we have shared data with the Health and Safety Executive and are engaging with lift manufacturers and turbine [original equipment manufacturers] to confirm replacement components and safe change?out methodologies.

“At present, there is no indication of worker health risk, and no evidence of wrongdoing by turbine operators.”