PN: Home Safely at Werris Creek?

Sep 3, 2017News PN Updates

After months of hearing and seeing nothing from PN management regarding employee concerns for health and safety at the Werris Creek Barracks, your HSR’s requested assistance from the RTBU Locomotive Division in resolving concerns.

As all of you know, earlier this year the company installed 7 new split system air conditioners. It was obvious that the AC units had been installed through and over the asbestos sheeting. Members and HSR’s raised concerns with management re the asbestos being handled correctly and the HSR’s also raised questions over general monitoring and access to the Asbestos register. The register is supposed to be readily available to all employees.

Months later at the July SHE Meeting the committee was advised that “the recent works to the Werris Creek barracks did not disturb any Asbestos”.

Last Friday the safety manager confirmed with the RTBU that asbestos had been disturbed during the installation work however it was carried out by licensed installers and all precautions necessary had been taken by the contractors.

How Do We Know When They’re Telling The Truth?

After seeking assistance from Comcare (the safety regulator), the regulator immediately gave the matter priority and has advised the following actions have been required/requested of Pacific National.

Actions:

 Immediate visual inspection of WCK barracks- RE: photos of unreported items
 Email HSR’s full response to query on disturbance to asbestos during installation of 7 x split systems in
March 2017- due date Tuesday 5/9/17
 Review WCK asbestos Management Plan to understand status of items listed as poor condition- due date
Tuesday – 5/9/17
 Confirm agreed date for WCK asbestos Management Plan
 COMCARE site visit and PN to advise of action plan moving forward- due date Thursday 7/9/17”
From what has been advised it appears the AC installations were installed correctly however there is concerns with the register and other concerns since raised re cracks in asbestos sheeting and other installations that appear to have no sealing around the edges.

Members will be kept up to date on developments after the site visit next week. If members have any further concerns re the asbestos issue please contact your local delegate and HSR or union Organiser so as we can represent them to the Comcare inspector.

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