THE Department of Environment and Primary Industries has instructed staff to 'lock away' a chemical herbicide which contains an ingredient under investigation for negative impacts to human health.
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As the family of a spray hand believes the chemicals he used were responsible for his death, an email to DEPI staff on Monday from the department's regional safety and wellbeing advisor Tess Shanahan said the chemical Trooper 75-D should be "immediately" removed from use.
"Could you please ensure that Trooper 75-D Herbicide be immediately taken off the shelf and locked away in a secured location with restricted access and await further advice," the email read.
Trooper 75-D's active ingredient is 24-D, a chemical the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is assessing for impacts to human health.
In 2013, the APVMA banned a form of 24-D for "unacceptable" environmental risks.
A report into the chemical's effects on human health are expected at the end of this year.
The decision this week by DEPI to 'lock away' Trooper 75-D comes just weeks after the Victorian government announced a review into the Lands Department a former name of the DEPI following an investigation by The Courier into chemical use during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Dozens of former employees have come forward, confirming they were exposed not just to 24-D, but the already-banned 245-T daily with no protective clothing.
Workers say they suspect illnesses, including cancers, were caused as a result of this chemical exposure.
Many employees also reported mixing these two chemicals among others to create even more dangerous concoctions, such as Agent Orange.
Three days after The Courier broke the story, the government announced the internal review involving the DEPI and Victorian WorkCover Authority.
Since then, the state Opposition has committed to holding an independent inquiry into Lands Department practices under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act a pledge matched by the Greens.
The government say it will wait for the outcome of the internal review before deciding whether to launch a similar inquiry.
While the DEPI would not confirm Trooper 75-D was removed from use, it did confirm it currently holds stocks of 24-D products, used to treat broad-leaf weeds.
Spokesperson Nick Talbot said products being investigated were removed from use during investigations as department procedure.
Australian Workers Union Victoria branch secretary Ben Davis said the "refusal to make full and frank comment" reinforced the need for a transparent, independent inquiry.
jordan.oliver@fairfaxmedia.com.au
david.jeans@faifaxmedia.com.au