Asbestos has put another stop to Australian advances. The National Broadband Network (NBN), a government owned company, has had to halt their progress towards a nationwide fiber installation due to the presence of asbestos. With a massive plan to include 93% of the nation, NBN set about connecting the country through fiber-optic technology. Only 7% would be left with other forms of internet and digital connectivity.
The plan included use of existing telegraph poles and underground conduits. About 25% of the new fiber would be hung from poles while the large majority would be buried in an existing underground infrastructure of ditches. However, asbestos was found to be present in the cement and building materials of included ditches and conduits.
Switching its primary focus from technology to safety, NBN administrators are now considering the best way to move forward. Exposing asbestos would threaten safety and health for workers and the public. Asbestos is known to cause severe respiratory conditions. Rare cancer mesothelioma is most associated with asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is characterized by malignant tumors in the lung ling and lining of other abdominal cavities. There are available mesothelioma treatments, but no known cure.
Costs associates with asbestos removal are high. Trained professionals with appropriate protective gear must test all potentially dangerous materials and them remove it without exposing the fibers. In this case, complexity had been added by trouble differentiating between asbestos and non-asbestos cement.
NBN spokeswoman Rhonda Griffin sounds optimistic. She said the “
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