Telstra shocker on injured worker

Telstra is refusing compensation to a Brisbane woman forced to 
sell her home after she suffered "acoustic shock" at its 
Chermside call centre 18 months ago.

Australia's largest company, which just recorded a $4.1 billion 
profit, is holding out on Jackie Skelton, despite getting an 
improvement notice from Comcare — the workers' compensation 
insurer for the Commonwealth Government — relating to the 
situation that forced her out of work.

The Comcare notice said the Chermside call centre had to 
undertake an acoustic shock risk assessment; minimise associated 
hazards and provide an action plan to implement necessary 
controls. If followed a February incident, in which 100 employees 
were treated for acoustic shock injuries by ambulance officers 
and paramedics in the call centre car park.

One year earlier, Jackie Skelton's life had been turned upside 
down by a similar incident.

"I got an electrical shock through my head set and felt a burning 
sensation on my scalp", she recalled. "It caused me severe pain, 
knocked me back in my chair and made me nauseous."

She was diagnosed with middle ear damage and the resulting loss 
of balance forced her to leave the job.

Initially, Telstra insurer GIO accepted responsibility for 
medical costs and lost wages but reimbursements were slow and 
inconsistent.

On December 12 last year Telstra said it would table a settlement 
offer the following month. But, says Community and Public Sector 
Union official Paul Ingwersen, that offer never eventuated.

Since February, 2004, Ms Skelton has received no financial 
support from Telstra or GIO.

"I have had to sell my home in order to pay medical and living 
expenses", she said.

Ingwersen welcomed the Comcare improvement notice as the "first 
official acknowledgement of a problem" at Chernside.

"It is implicit proof that Jackie suffered a terrible injury in 
that call centre", Ingwersen said. "It is high time Telstra spent 
some of its billion dollar profit on compensating a woman who has 
suffered injury, lost her job and been through 18 months of 
dreadful uncertainty."