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SAFETY
SACRIFICED
TO
BUILDING
PRESSURES
AND BAD
LAWS
2
August 2010
Media
Release
: 2
August
2010
Construction
Forestry
Mining &
Energy
Union
ph: 8231
5532
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The
Construction
Union says
safety on
large South
Australian
building
sites has
arguably
plunged in
recent
weeks,
despite the
death of a
worker at
the
desalination
plant. |
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CFMEU
Assistant
Secretary,
Darren
Roberts says
it's
extraordinary
that despite
all the
outcry and
publicity
surrounding
the desal
tragedy that
similar
accidents
have
occurred
across the
city. |
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"It's
literally
just sheer
luck that
workers
weren't also
killed in
these
appalling
mishaps, the
latest of
which
happened
late Friday
and has
prompted us
to speak
out." |
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In that
incident in
the city,
the gates on
a personnel
and
equipment
hoist known
as an ALIMAK
failed.
The ALIMAK's
heavy
industrial
door fell 5
floors.
By sheer
luck no
workers
below were
injured. |
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Furthermore,
the employer
failed to
immediately
notify
SafeWork SA
and only
acted after
it was told
the union
had
contacted
the
authorities.
Also in
recent weeks |
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-
A switch
failure
on an
ALIMAK
at
another
site saw
the
hoist
freefall
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-
A large
sheet of
steel
reinforcing
mesh
being
moved by
crane
broke
free and
fell an
estimated
5
storeys
at the
Aquatic
Centre,
very
narrowly
missing
workers
below.
One
worker
said
they'd
have
looked
like
cheese
cubes if
they'd
been
hit.
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"We need a
greater
awareness
and respect
for
standards in
this high
risk
industry.
That means
better
maintenance
and
unrestricted
right of
entry for
inspections.
There also
needs to be
enough time
to ensure
safety
standards
are properly
applied.
I have no
doubt much
of the
danger is
caused by
unrealistic
job
schedules,
with workers
under huge
pressure to
get
everything
done
yesterday,"
Mr Roberts
says. |
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"In the past
it was
common
practice to
hold back
work we call
jumping the
crane until
outside of
normal
operation
hours to
reduce the
danger to
workers of
overhead
accidents.
But the
pressures of
time and
money have
seen this
practice
eroded." |
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"Perhaps the
greatest
concern of
all is the
substantial
laws which
prevent
workers from
taking
direct
action in
the event of
safety
issues.
The
Australian
Building
Construction
Commission
laws mean
even when
workers see
a safety
problem,
they're
unable to
take direct
action for
fear of
prosecution." |
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"Right now
Ark Tribe,
who attended
an on site
meeting to
address
safety
concerns,
faces the
prospect of
6 months
jail under
the ABCC
laws." |
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"No worker's
life should
be
sacrificed
because of
bad safety
standards,
and worse,
bad laws
that prevent
legitimate
concerns
being
addressed",
Mr Roberts
says. |
