Hidden Danger: Old Gas Pipes in Hobart and Launceston

This is an abridgement of an article posted by ABC News.

Decommissioned gas pipelines buried beneath Hobart and Launceston are a ticking time bomb for construction workers. Installed in the 1850s to power streetlights, these pipes were abandoned in the 1970s when electricity took over. Their locations are largely unknown, and over the decades, toxic gases, including cyanide, have accumulated within them.

In 2010, three workers on Hobart's Evans Street accidentally ruptured an old gas main, inhaling poisonous fumes that caused permanent, life-altering injuries. The Civil Contractors Federation warns that these risks persist, particularly in areas where gas infrastructure was once widespread. Anytime the ground is disturbed, workers face potentially fatal exposure.

While some maps of the old gas network exist, they are incomplete and unreliable. No organisation currently takes responsibility for these ageing pipelines, leaving workers at risk. The Tasmanian government is forming a working group to address the issue by improving records, assigning responsibility, and exploring ways to eliminate the risk entirely.

Worksafe Tasmania urges contractors to check with TasWater, TasNetworks, and Dial Before You Dig before commencing excavation in areas with suspected gas infrastructure. With growing pressure from unions and industry bodies, immediate action is needed to protect workers and prevent future tragedies.

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