Worksafe shuts down Mt Stanley tower in middle of peak danger season

Written by By simon crase.

WORKSAFE Victoria has closed the fire tower at Stanley to investigate a serious health and safety issue.

It was expected the fire tower would be closed for the remainder of the fire season, however, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), which has responsibility for the fire tower, claims it will be up and running again as soon as possible.

"DSE is currently working with WorkSafe Victoria on solutions that would see the fire tower open and operational for the remainder of the fire season," DSE North East regional director Peter Farrell said.

Australian Workers’ Union North East Victoria organiser Kim Shepherd said WorkSafe Victoria closed the tower after an audit by the union indicated high levels of electromagnetic radiation were being emitted from a cluster of TV and radio towers close to the fire tower.

"Part of the concern with the Stanley tower is the amount of radiation emitting from a cluster of electronic equipment located above and below the tower box," Mr Shepherd said.

"WorkSafe Victoria was called to carry out an inspection and had concerns for the safety of the employees."

An investigation will now take place and an indication of how seriously the organisation takes the radiation issue was demonstrated by the closure at the worst possible time of the year, Mr Shepherd stated.

"Worksafe Victoria is generally very reluctant to stop work and I am well aware fire preparedness is crucial in North East Victoria," he said.

Mr Shepherd said DSE was alerted to the problem about 12 months ago in writing, yet no action had transpired.

"DSE conducted its own audits and very little had been done to bring them up to the current facilities code of practice," he said.

Mr Farrell said the department was "committed" to ensuring the health and safety of its people, and consults with staff and undertakes regular audits of workplaces, including fire towers.

He said audits in 2009 and 2011 by independent consultants found there were no unacceptable safety issues at the Mt Stanley tower, including access and exposure to electromagnetic radiation.

"However, a recent inspection by WorkSafe Victoria raised some concerns that resulted in the closure of the fire tower last week," Mr Farrell said.

The closed tower takes in the Mudgegonga district and Mudgegonga CFA captain Andrew Cross, who led his brigade through the devas-tating 2009 bushfires, was dismayed to hear of the closure.

"For this to occur at the most important time of the year, the fact we don’t have a set of eyes watching over us is extremely disappointing," Mr Cross said.

"We need someone looking out for our communities."

Lightning strikes were of major concern, Mr Cross said, especially given the arid state of the land in the area and precarious time of year.

Mr Farrell said interim measures had been put in place within the Ovens Valley to ensure the ability to detect and respond to fires was not compromised.

"Plans were under way to replace the Stanley fire tower cabin after the fire season as part of the statewide project to modernise fire towers," he said.