Do we have a familar pattern mismanagement and dangerous work...

Do we have a familar pattern mismanagement and dangerous work practices emerging with yet another poorly thought through Gov project as highlited in this item from the themercry.com.au

GREG Henderson was lured to Tasmania by the promise of good work and a fair day's pay.

He was among electrical workers headhunted from New Zealand to work on the Tasmanian rollout of the National Broadband Network.

He was recruited by interstate recruitment agency Talon Group.

The Kiwi sparkies and live-line specialists were promised full-time work with contractor Power and Electrical within three months of relocation.

But the arrangement soured when Mr Henderson raised concerns about substandard safety practices that culminated in an apprentice being shocked while working on live power poles in January.

"I was pretty fearful that morning because we had some heavy rain overnight and there was pressure to try and get the job done quickly," Mr Henderson said.

"I felt that certain things were not covered in the pre-start meeting. It was slippery and wet but the most obvious thing that was not pointed out was the overhead 22,000-volt power lines.

"The rope and the cable we were working with had water on them and there was potential that when pulling and tensioning up this cable it could pull up to touch the live power cables."

Mr Henderson said the apprentice was shocked after climbing a wet power pole that had a leaky insulator.

The apprentice escaped without serious injury but Mr Henderson said the minimal training given to workers was a recipe for disaster.

"These were basically riggers and truck drivers who had done a short fibre-optic cable installation training course," Mr Henderson said.

"They were untrained guys who didn't have total awareness of situations around them."

NBN Co spokeswoman Rhonda Griffin denied a shortage of skilled workers had led to corners being cut.

Mr Henderson agitated about safety concerns, including asking his employer to buy fully insulated rubber gloves for work on high-voltage lines.

He said Power and Electrical refused and told him his services were no longer needed.

"Basically they told me they didn't really require electricians any more but I knew that wasn't true because the work was ongoing," he said.