WorkCover inaction threatens public safety

The CFMEU has lashed out at serious negligence by WorkCover following a life threatening accident at Parramatta on 21 December 2001.

An eight tonne concrete balcony slab dislodged from a building site 20 metres above Christmas shopping packed Macquarie Street Parramatta.

CFMEU State Secretary Andrew Ferguson said "we were lucky that dozens of pedestrians and workers were not crushed."

There were serious scaffolding defects, electrical hazards, inadequate fall protection for employees and dozens of other major hazards at the site.

WorkCover issued a number of Improvement and Prohibition notices, but no penalties. The CFMEU have received advice from industry safety officers that there has been a dramatic decline in the issuing of Penalty notices by WorkCover in the last six months. This is at the very same time that there has been an explosion in workplace accidents in the construction industry in Sydney.

In fact, according to confidential information obtained from WorkCover inspectors, there are legal impediments with issuing WorkCover Penalty Notices arising from recent changes to the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The CFMEU have called for the impediment to be addressed urgently to stop the death and injury of building workers and to ensure public safety.

For further information

Contact	:	Media Officer, CFMEU - Phil Davey
Phone	:	02 9749 7599
Email	:	enquiries@nsw.cfmeu.asn.au
WWW	:	http://ohsnet.labor.net.au/ohsnet/news

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