Telstra exchange buildings may contain asbestos

Telstra's exchange buildings are the focus of new asbestos claims as union leaders are demanding for an investigation. The exchange buildings contain some of the interconnection points of the National Broadband Network (NBN). Union leaders claim the presence of asbestos is not only limited to the communication pits but also in the company's exchange buildings.

The buildings in question are in need of repairs and may contain asbestos. The potentially harmful chemical may be disturbed by drilling and other construction work. Union leaders want to discuss the current issue with the aid of an independent asbestos taskforce. The taskforce was organised under the leadership of Bill Shorten, minister of workplace relations.

Based on the investigations of the union and reports from members, the asbestos registers inside Telstra's exchange buildings have yet to be updated. The last update was made on 2007, according to John O'Donnell, president of Communications Workers Union West Australia. Mr O'Donnell said the union is seriously concerned of the implications of the situation, if not addressed.

Mr O'Donnell said Telstra keeps on talking about being accountable for everything but changes have not been implemented. In an interview with The Australian, Telstra employees reported an incident in 2009 of exposure to dust in exchange buildings after they drilled holes in tiles, possibly containing asbestos.

The new asbestos claims will be discussed during the next meeting of the task force.

A Telstra spokeswoman, Nicole McKechnie, confirmed on Wednesday night of having asbestos in construction materials inside exchange buildings. On the allegations of the union in West Australia branch, the registers in exchange buildings were built to inform them of the location of asbestos. The company does not add asbestos to construction materials anymore, so some registers may have changed.

On Wednesday, Comcare had serious concerns over the recent asbestos scares and tested the soil dumped on Duggan Street, Victoria, for traces of asbestos.