Union fears about the safety at Visy Paper’s Tumut mill site have been confirmed after audits cite a high explosion risk.

The audit report identified a dangerous build up of chloride within the caustic liquor which increases the risk of explosion in the water boiler.

According to the hazard audit, there are nine safety concerns needing to be addressed, but found the hot surfaces in 'recovery boiler B' at the paper mill to be an ‘issue of significance’.

It also recommended several technical upgrades of old, unsafe machinery also at high risk of corrosion.

Reports say successive audits highlighting risks at the Tumut mill have taken place since 2003, however in 13 years none of the essential changes have been made.

The report reads, “It is expected the findings of the 2015 Hazardous Area Classification project will be both, acted upon with considerable vigour, and implemented in full at the earliest opportunity.”

It also says the changes to ensure hazard is minimised at the pulp and paper mill is a ‘work in progress’.

Visy’s environmental audit however commended the paper mill on its efforts to comply with all relevant regulations, but stated, “Some conditions seem difficult for Visy to achieve full compliance.”

The Tumut paper mill has had its fair share of controversy, after it was condemned by unions for neglecting employee safety and last month was at the forefront of protests about its paper waste dumping.

Visy operates in more than 120 locations across Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam, and is privately owned by the Pratt family.

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