5 April 2006

First phase of asbestos audit completed

RailCorp’s Chief Executive Officer, Vince Graham, said today that the audit for disturbed asbestos at 65 priority locations has now been completed.

"Following the identification of asbestos at Eastwood in early March, RailCorp identified 65 stations where asbestos material may have been disturbed by recent contract work," Mr Graham said.

"These stations have now all been inspected and remedial works completed at the 12 sites requiring action.

"The final of these sites was at Artarmon, which returned a positive result to disturbed asbestos last night and was immediately closed to staff and the public while remedial works were undertaken – these were completed in time for rail services this morning."

Mr Graham said that the RailCorp will now commence another phase of our asbestos management strategy.

"RailCorp is now developing a staged plan to more comprehensively assess and register asbestos in all of our station and building assets," Mr Graham said.

"The process of carefully assessing all of our premises will take time - up to 12 months, because we are determined to get it right."

Mr Graham said that in the meantime, other measures have been put in place to better manage asbestos on rail premises.

"Last month we commenced the rollout of comprehensive staff briefings on asbestos related issues," Mr Graham said.

"The briefings, in combination with the new asbestos staff hotline mean that staff now have access to more information about asbestos and a new means of alerting management to any concerns they may have about it in the workplace.

"The well being of rail staff and the public is and will continue to be our priority – we are determined to both audit our stations and equip our staff with the right information to make sure our premises are safe places of work."

RailCorp will keep the public, staff and WorkCover informed as developments occur in our plan to manage asbestos on railway premises.