Renovation work at the Telstra Building in Deakin, Canberra has been put on hold after WorkSafe ACT and the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate issued stop-work notices to the contractor. These notices were issued for violations in both licensing and building approvals and came after the discovery of asbestos at the site
The site was inspected on Thursday by construction union officials and they communicated a number of concerns about the site to authorities. After the inspection was completed the contractor willingly closed the site.
Canberra’s branch secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) Dean Hall has confirmed the building’s asbestos register was inaccurate. Therefore the contractor should have followed a specific procedure for performing an asbestos audit and developing an asbestos management plan however they failed to do so.
A Telstra spokesman has suggested they were aware the contractor had discovered asbestos at the site and were confident that the necessary action was taken to ensure the safety of their workers.
The appropriate licence and procedures for removing and managing asbestos are extremely important as even minimal exposure to asbestos can lead to workers contracting an asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma. While there is some mesothelioma treatment available in Australia this disease is often terminal. Cases of mesothelioma in Australia are expected to rise within the next decade.
Unfortunately, mesothelioma claims in Canberra have been made following persons resident in the Australia Capital Territory being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos related conditions.
