THE Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has defended its decision to outsource up to six frontline safety operator positions at its Lucas Heights operations.
The ANSTO Site Operations Safety Supervisors (SOSS) were told last week that their positions were "surplus to requirements" and would be carried out by a contractor.
And the armed Federal Police team's duties would be reduced and not include monitoring of CCTV at ANSTO's Lucas Heights premises.
An ANSTO spokesman said that SOSS were one of several groups responsible for responding to incidents if they occurred, and for escorting emergency services on-site.
"These services will be performed by a combination of existing ANSTO staff and contractors under the new model," he said.
"We are working with the staff in the SOSS positions on options, including redeployment and retraining within ANSTO."
A tender process to be finalised in the next few months meant ANSTO would "purchase hours" from an appropriate external organisation.
"The number of people and value of the contract is subject to that tender process," he said.
"Any staff from the contractor would receive, as appropriate, the same training that ANSTO staff who work in specified operational areas receive."
The spokesperson said: "Security arrangements at ANSTO will be in line with our regulatory requirements, international best practice and community expectations.
"ANSTO has, and will continue to have, a 24-hour, armed AFP response force on site.
"What ANSTO is considering is whether someone with the extraordinary skills and training of an Australian Federal Police officer is the right person to monitor all of our CCTV cameras, or if that function should be performed instead by someone else.
"Like most organisations in this economic climate, ANSTO is seeking to make savings and find efficiencies."
ANSTO has briefed the NSW Fire Brigade's zone commander and the police local area commander, neither of whom had raised concerns about the planned changes.
Sutherland Shire mayor Steve Simpson said he was "sure" any replacements would do "as good as, if not a better job".
"This is not to say that the current safety supervisors were not doing their job.
"If they fail we will be onto them like everyone else."
Should ANSTO be outsourcing its frontline safety supervisors?
