A parliamentary question regarding Western Power's use of community-based offenders to apply fire-retardant paint to power poles, focusing on prior work, safety training, and trial costs. The Minister provides answers confirming this is a new initiative, offenders will be trained, and the trial is funded internally.

AnsweredQoN 271Legislative Council
Asked
12 April 2011
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

WESTERN POWER — USE OF OFFENDERS ON COMMUNITY-BASED ORDERS
I refer to the minister’s recent media release regarding community-based offenders applying fire-retardant paint to power poles. (1) Has Western Power done this work previously; and, if so, which contractors were engaged to do it? (2) Are offenders being properly trained in occupational health and safety, especially given they will be working around live electrical assets? (3) How much is this trial costing and how is it being funded? Hon PETER COLLIER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Western Power has not previously retrospectively hand-painted poles with fire-retardant paint. (2) Yes, the community-based offenders will be suitably trained. In addition, Western Power will provide a fully accredited Western Power representative to supervise this trial and undertake quality control. (3) The cost of the equipment for the trial is approximately $5 000, funded from Western Power’s existing budget arrangements made available as a result of internal efficiencies.
(1) Has Western Power done this work previously; and, if so, which contractors were engaged to do it? (2) Are offenders being properly trained in occupational health and safety, especially given they will be working around live electrical assets? (3) How much is this trial costing and how is it being funded? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Western Power has not previously retrospectively hand-painted poles with fire-retardant paint. (2) Yes, the community-based offenders will be suitably trained. In addition, Western Power will provide a fully accredited Western Power representative to supervise this trial and undertake quality control. (3) The cost of the equipment for the trial is approximately $5 000, funded from Western Power’s existing budget arrangements made available as a result of internal efficiencies.
(2) Are offenders being properly trained in occupational health and safety, especially given they will be working around live electrical assets? (3) How much is this trial costing and how is it being funded? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Western Power has not previously retrospectively hand-painted poles with fire-retardant paint. (2) Yes, the community-based offenders will be suitably trained. In addition, Western Power will provide a fully accredited Western Power representative to supervise this trial and undertake quality control. (3) The cost of the equipment for the trial is approximately $5 000, funded from Western Power’s existing budget arrangements made available as a result of internal efficiencies.
(3) How much is this trial costing and how is it being funded? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Western Power has not previously retrospectively hand-painted poles with fire-retardant paint. (2) Yes, the community-based offenders will be suitably trained. In addition, Western Power will provide a fully accredited Western Power representative to supervise this trial and undertake quality control. (3) The cost of the equipment for the trial is approximately $5 000, funded from Western Power’s existing budget arrangements made available as a result of internal efficiencies.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Western Power has not previously retrospectively hand-painted poles with fire-retardant paint. (2) Yes, the community-based offenders will be suitably trained. In addition, Western Power will provide a fully accredited Western Power representative to supervise this trial and undertake quality control. (3) The cost of the equipment for the trial is approximately $5 000, funded from Western Power’s existing budget arrangements made available as a result of internal efficiencies.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Western Power has not previously retrospectively hand-painted poles with fire-retardant paint. (2) Yes, the community-based offenders will be suitably trained. In addition, Western Power will provide a fully accredited Western Power representative to supervise this trial and undertake quality control. (3) The cost of the equipment for the trial is approximately $5 000, funded from Western Power’s existing budget arrangements made available as a result of internal efficiencies.
(1) Western Power has not previously retrospectively hand-painted poles with fire-retardant paint. (2) Yes, the community-based offenders will be suitably trained. In addition, Western Power will provide a fully accredited Western Power representative to supervise this trial and undertake quality control. (3) The cost of the equipment for the trial is approximately $5 000, funded from Western Power’s existing budget arrangements made available as a result of internal efficiencies.
(2) Yes, the community-based offenders will be suitably trained. In addition, Western Power will provide a fully accredited Western Power representative to supervise this trial and undertake quality control. (3) The cost of the equipment for the trial is approximately $5 000, funded from Western Power’s existing budget arrangements made available as a result of internal efficiencies.
(3) The cost of the equipment for the trial is approximately $5 000, funded from Western Power’s existing budget arrangements made available as a result of internal efficiencies.

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