TELSTRA has known about the potential of asbestos exposure to contractors working on the National Broadband Network and has failed to ensure their safety, a trade union representative says.
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Electrical Trade Union official David Mier said the union had alerted Telstra and the NBN to the potential risks two and a half years ago, and said workers had been needlessly exposed to potential asbestosis due to lack of training and diligence.
“It’s just pathetic,” Mr Mier said yesterday.
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“Telstra has known about it for years because they own the infrastructure. We’ve had meetings with them, telling them about this.
“There is a code of practice for the removal of asbestos but it’s not being followed. Normal Telstra contrators are properly trained but Telstra has let out the process to Service Stream, which has sub-let it out to others. Because it is the NBN, anyone is being allowed to do it, and that includes quite a few cowboys.
"Who’s policing it? Telstra? No. NBN Co? No.”
“Any piece of asbestos that is consumed has the potential to cause respiratory disease. The incubation period is 20 years and it can become airborne.”
Mr Mier said those handling the asbestos in Ballarat had appeared not to follow correct procedure and called on NBN Co to conduct safety inspections to ensure proper occupational health and safety measures were being taken by all subcontractors.
“What’s happened has exposed the workforce and the public (to harm),” Mr Mier said.
“If the removal of asbestos from a site is happening along a street there should be a letterbox drop and it should be signposted but this (procedure) is not being followed.
“Who’s policing it? Telstra? No. NBN Co? No.”