Two weeks after receiving a report highlighting extensive asbestos safety breaches in the rollout of the National Broadband Network in Hobart, neither NBN Co nor major contractor Visionstream have acted on the major workplace and community safety risks identified.
The Communications Electrical Plumbing Union said the continued failure to act showed a complete disregard for the lives of workers on the project and those of nearby residents.
An audit of 13 NBN worksites in Hobart that took place on Wednesday May 8 revealed that workers at more than half had not received training to deal with asbestos containing material in and around old telecommunications pits.
At some sites exposed asbestos containing materials was reportedly left laying about while at others potential asbestos containing material had allegedly been removed without appropriate safety measures.
“Despite our detailed audit uncovering systemic problems with the NBN rollout around Hobart — including untrained workers removing asbestos materials — neither Visionstream nor NBN Co have made a serious attempt to address our concerns,” CEPU national NBN construction and project officer David Mier said.
“Visionstream’s response has instead been to gag its workforce, calling all subcontractors into meetings last week and threatening them with the sack if they spoke to the union or the media about safety issues,” claimed Mr Mier.
“While Visionstream has phoned the union to confirm receipt of our report and promised action, we are yet to see anything come of it.”
Mr Mier was equally concerned by the response of the Federal Government safety regulator Comcare, which he says met with the union in Hobart last Thursday to discuss the report, but specifically refused to attend any worksites to examine the asbestos safety issues first hand.
“The NBN is a major national building project which we wholeheartedly welcome, but our union is determined to ensure it is built in a safe manner that protects the health of workers and the community,” he said.
The CEPU also forwarded the results of the audit to Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Stephen Conroy to ensure the Federal Government was aware of the serious occupational health and safety breaches identified on NBN worksites.
“NBN Co may be able to outsource the rollout of this project to major contractors like Visionstream, but that doesn’t mean both it and the Federal Government don’t retain a moral obligation to ensure work occurs in a safe manner,” Mr Mier said.
Mr Mier demanded they act immediately to ensure all subcontractors have received specific training covering safe work with asbestos containing materials, to place warning signage at the sites, and to notify nearby residents of the potential risks and they actions they should take.
“It doesn’t take much effort to ensure that the health and safety of everyone involved in the NBN rollout is protected. All it takes is the desire to act,” he concluded.
