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A spokeswoman for Ixom said its Botany plant would maintain quality production of chloralkali products and service to its customers in a "safe and compliant" manner.
The Ixom spokeswoman said the company had acted in response to an indefinite strike as part of the EBA process.
"The Botany plant is a 24/7 facility and Ixom has our own highly qualified technical experts on site full-time to maintain safe production," she said.
"Ixom has a proud reputation of industry leading standards and the contingencies that it has implemented will ensure the continuity and quality of supply for customers and safety for team members on-site and the surrounding community."
A spokeswoman for Sydney Water said it had been advised of ongoing enterprise bargaining agreement negotations at IXOM's plant, but that it was not currently impacting on its operations.
"We have contingency plans in place with Ixom for continued supply of products we require to deliver drinking water that meets the Australian drinking water guidelines," she said.
Sydney Water said it had contingency plans in place
Photo: James Alcock"Sydney Water has a rigorous process to assess all our suppliers’ relevant work place health and safety systems."
A spokeswoman for SafeWork NSW said it has been notified about the Ixom Botany industrial dispute and associated safety concerns.
"SafeWork is addressing the enquiry in accordance with their standard procedures," the spokeswoman said.
Mr Walton claimed the workers wanted only maintenance of their pay and conditions and that Ixom wanted to "slash their wages by 30 per cent".
"Workers have every right to be angry and to seek industrial action. But for the company to lock the gates in response is just an appalling risk," he said.
AWU national secretary Daniel Walton
Photo: AAP"These are deadly, and potentially catastrophic, chemicals being manufactured near homes and schools, and we now have no idea who's been thrown behind the wheel."
Bayside Council Mayor Bill Saravinovski said the chemicals at the Botany plant can be "incredibly toxic".
"The community has a right to know that safety is the number one priority at this facility at all times," the Labor mayor said.
The Labor MP for Maroubra Michael Daley said he was "disgusted" at the treatment of staff.
"What concerns me is they are producing chemicals like caustic soda, chlorine and hydrochloric acid which are potentially dangerous," he said.
"The problem is the experts are now locked at the front gate and God knows who this company has flown in to operate the facility. I have real safety concerns for the people of this area."
Anna Patty is Workplace Editor for The Sydney Morning Herald. She is a former Education Editor, State Political Reporter and Health Reporter. Her reports on inequity in schools funding led to the Gonski reforms and won her national awards. Her coverage of health exposed unnecessary patient deaths at Campbelltown Hospital and led to judicial and parliamentary inquiries. At The Times of London, she exposed flaws in international medical trials.
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