Telstra NBN remediation work on again

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brendan-riley

news The nation’s largest telco Telstra has announced that it will restart remediation work on its pits and pipe infrastructure, as controls on asbestos handling have been put in place to deal with the hazardous material. The remediation work is necessary for the National Broadband Network rollout to go ahead, using Telstra’s infrastructure.

It was discovered in May and June that some of the Telstra and NBN staff working on Telstra’s infrastructure had disturbed asbestos fibres, which can cause long-term health risks. Telstra subsequently stated that it was putting in place a raft of measures to deal with the situation. The telco reported last week to the asbestos taskforce set up by the Government that it was ready to start work again.

The company yesterday advised contractors that staged remediation works on its pits would recommence from 19 August with additional safeguards in place. Telstra chief operations officer Brendon Riley (pictured) said in a statement that Telstra would enhance requirements for contractors involved in remediation of Telstra pits and ensure relevant staff had completed additional training in the safe handling and removal of asbestos.
 
“We advised our contractors today that only companies which hold a Class B licence and can certify their staff have relevant training will start work from 19 August.  We expect the workforce to steadily ramp up as more contractors meet these stringent requirements,” Riley said.
“We have appointed and trained 125 Telstra staff for the proposed team of up to 200 specialists to supervise pit remediation.  We have updated our process and procedures increasing our level of supervision so the community has confidence this work is being completed safely.”
 
Riley said Telstra was implementing stronger community engagement around pit remediation works involving removal of asbestos containing material.
 
“We will brief local councils in the weeks prior to any NBN remediation work occurring and seek to brief residents and businesses through information packs and letters sent in the week leading up to the work.  In the case of emergency works, we intend to doorknock to attempt contact,” the executive said. “We continue to work closely with the Federal Government, Asbestos Task Force and Comcare through this process. We will also continue to consult with our employees and unions about our safety focus and training.”
 
Telstra said anyone concerned about work in their area would be able to contact Telstra on a dedicated 1800 067 225 hotline service.

In June, Telstra announced that it would appoint a new field workforce of up to 200 specialists to directly inspect and supervise all asbestos-related remediation work, as well as imposing mandatory Telstra-designed training for all contractors and sub-contractors working with the telco’s infrastructure.

The telco also issued a temporary stop work order on remediation of its pits and pipes (work that is being carried out to ensure the NBN build can use Telstra’s infrastructure), until asbestos training can be completed, as well as committing to engage with the wider community about work in their areas involving asbestos.

Telstra’s main union, the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU), has called for a fund to be set up to cover all workers who had been exposed to asbestos while working on Telstra’s infrastructure.

“Telstra must also provide training and certification in asbestos handling to all workers and contractors working on asbestos sites, said CEPU NSW assistant secretary Shane Murphy in a statement issued late last week. The telco also needed to set up a fund to cover future medical costs emerging from its poor management of asbestos, Murphy added.

“The impacts of this mess will be felt decades into the future – Telstra needs to take responsibility for the health impact on its own workers as well as the broader community.”

Image credit: Telstra

6 COMMENTS

  1. I’m waiting for Turnbull to once again claim NBNco dropped the ball, on Telstra infrastructure management.

    • The weasel of wentworth was on the radio today claiming that it would take decades to complete the NBN.

      • .. he’s using “complete” as context. There is no such thing as “complete”, the network will continue to grow as new premises are built, the population grows, and so forth.

        There are targets to hit, etc. So the argument is typical bravado to hijack the discussion away from any real discussion over the LNP Policy.

        It’s pretty low-ball politics, really. Bash the NBN, bash NBNco, wage a war against people, and the Board; yet use large portions of the former Network, and charge the latter to build your own crap when you gain office.

        What a guy.

  2. I hope Telstra is footing the bill for the removal of the asbestos, since they own the pits!!!

  3. I just want to point out that while Telstra remediation has ceased, I am regularly seeing other third party contractors unrelated to the NBN continuing to work in pod like it’s business as usual. So I have to call into question exactly what the motives of the past few weeks have been. If myriad others are OK to work why not the NBN remediation staff who said weeks ago they were ready to go with additional training complete? Call me cynical!

  4. I just want to point out that while Telstra remediation had ceased, I wad regularly seeing other third party contractors unrelated to the NBN continuing to work in pitd like it’s business as usual. So I have to call into question exactly what the motives of the past few weeks have been. If myriad others are OK to work why not the NBN remediation staff who said weeks ago they were ready to go with additional training complete? Call me cynical!

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