Capalaba DC site of previous occurrence of cluster of cancers
There are currently 2 delivery centre consolidations occurring in Qld, being Logan and Capalaba. The CWU National Office has raised concerns about consolidation of delivery centres into Capalaba due to previous occurrence of a cluster of cancers and illness in that workplace.
In 2001 a former Post employee reported that a number of employees and former employees of Capalaba DC were seriously ill and that this might be from electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from the adjacent electricity substation. The claims of a cancer cluster extended beyond the workplace to the 3-4 acre of land with 16 businesses on it. In total the cluster involved 60 people, 15 of whom had died. There were also concerns about contamination from chemicals and biological agents leaching into the soil as the area had been an unofficial tip.
Subsequently the workplace environment was assessed and found to meet appropriate standards for OHS. But the Comcare investigator recommended the population should be kept under review. And that the workers who had worked at Capalaba DC since it first opened should be identified and this clearly recorded on each person’s HR file. We are following up and have asked Post for updated EMR report.
