EMPLOYERS ON NOTICE - '08 THE YEAR OF SAFETY

29 January 2008

It's been a bad start to 2008 for worker safety, with two workers killed as a result of workplace injuries in the past week.

SA Unions says worker safety will be a major focus for SA Unions for 2008, and that no worker should sacrifice their life for their job.

"We're making 2008 the year of Workplace Safety", SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says.

The latest death involved a woman employed at Bedford Industries who was struck by a forklift on January 21 and died today.  It's hot on the heels of the death of a man struck by equipment at the Santos Gas Fields at Moomba on Sunday.

"Employers are on notice - we want everyone working together to create safe workplaces, and irresponsible employers must be held to account.

"All employers have a duty of care to provide safe workplaces.  Those who fail to do so are costing us all - families pay through the loss of loved one, other employers pay through high WorkCover levies, our economy pays through loss of productivity and our society pays through the loss of valuable individuals."

"Somewhere between 20 and 30 South Australians are killed in workplace incidents each year.  Thousands of others are injured, and some never fully recover.  Tougher laws are a good first step - but that alone isn't enough.  We need to actually prevent deaths and injuries, not just punish bad employers after the fact."

"That means employers must lift their game", Ms Giles says.

The Government and unions have set the example:

• There is a state target for the reduction of workplace deaths and injuries

• There is a workplace safety awareness advertising campaign

• The government has employed more workplace safety inspectors

• Penalties for negligent employers have been tripled

• The Safework SA Advisory Committee has been established

• Unions have successfully won state government partnership grants to increase the number of workplace safety representatives and equip them to do their jobs better.

In the end though, the government and unions can't make workplaces safer - only employers can make workplaces safer."

"In 2008, we're committed to making that a reality", Ms Giles says.