CANBERRA, June 13 AAP -

Work on Telstra pits containing asbestos will only resume when employees and contractors have been trained on the safe handling and removal of asbestos, Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten says.

An independent asbestos taskforce set up this month amid fears of asbestos exposure at national broadband network (NBN) sites across Australia is working to finalise training for workers, Mr Shorten said after the task force met in Melbourne on Thursday.

Telstra is responsible for remediating the pits and ducts being used to roll out the NBN.

Work on Telstra pits containing asbestos will only resume when training has been completed by employees and contractors, Mr Shorten said in a statement.
Comcare inspectors, working with state work health and safety regulators, will be checking the safety of the work and reporting outcomes to the taskforce and Telstra and NBN Co have also appointed independent monitors.
AAP lk/alb

To anyone who employ's staff in the trades, training in safe handling of asbestos is mandatory under the 2011 Work Place Health and safety Act.

If you have identifed asbestos as a risk in their line of work, then you must give them asbestos awareness training.

Remembering asbestos is not only found in old house's, it can be found in cars, factories and of course Telstra pits.
...
With over 3000 know uses for asbestos, it could be lurking anywhere.

Make sure you and your staff don't unintentionally disturb asbestos, this may put at risk a life, theirs, yours or the public.

Not to mention the tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in clean up bills.

keyshr.com.au/OnlineWorkingwithAsbestos