Australia: An insulation industry representative was told 'not to rock the boat' when he warned government planners about safety risks in the Home Insulation Program. The comments have arisen in a royal commission into the Home Insulation Program that is investigating whether the deaths of four installers could have been avoided.
Peter Ruz, who worked for Fletcher Insulation and who was the director of the Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand, raised safety issues with installing foil insulation when he was consulted about the scheme in 2009. According to Australian Broadcasting Corporation transcripts from the commission, Ruz said he told government planners that three installers in New Zealand had been electrocuted and that he recommended the use of other insulation materials. However, Ruz felt that planners at the meeting dismissed his comments as 'squabbling' between different insulation type producers. Ruz also alleges that he sent an Environment Department manager, Beth Brunoro, news cuttings of the deaths in New Zealand.
Brunoro previously told the inquiry earlier that concerns would have been taken into consideration when the guidelines were being created for the scheme. It is unclear exactly what happened with that information because Brunoro stopped overseeing the project in April 2009 and the insulation scheme started in full in July 2009.
rThe Home Insulation Program ran until February 2010. The royal commission, overseen by Richard Hanger, will submit its report by 30 June 2014.
