Workers Memorial Day marks more than 2 years waiting for action on Boland Review, with almost 400 dead
28 April 2021
ACTU

The Government has failed to act on a single recommendation of the Boland review - released in February 2019. Almost 400 people have died at work since the report was released.

The Boland review of model WHS legislation handed down 34 recommendations including that the model WHS Act be amended to introduce an offence of industrial manslaughter.

Other than in Queensland, Victoria, the Northern Territory and Western Australia when companies are found responsible for the death of a worker the pay only a small fine, which can be claimed against insurance. This is no justice for the families, friends and workmates which have lost loved ones and is no deterrence for unsafe work practices which kill roughly 4 workers a week.

The ACTU calls on the Morrison government to act on the Boland review and urgently introduce an industrial manslaughter offence in the model WHS laws.

Minister Cash will be the deciding vote at an upcoming meeting of federal and state ministers, which will decide if industry manslaughter is adopted federally.

Quotes attributable to ACTU Assistant Secretary Liam O’Brien:

“Almost 400 people have died at work since the Boland review was handed down over two years ago and the Morrison Government has failed to act on a single recommendation.

“Businesses receiving a small fine that they can claim on insurance for someone dying at their workplace is appalling – there is no justice. We need Industrial Manslaughter legislation in every state and territory It should not matter what postcode your loved one dies in that determines the justice you receive.

“Every week four workers in Australia don’t come home. Inaction by this Government is ripping families apart and allowing needless pain and suffering.

“Minister Cash has the power to introduce industrial manslaughter laws across the county at an upcoming meeting of WHS ministers, its critical that she seizes this opportunity to protect workers.

“Industrial Manslaughter will not only provide an avenue for true justice for the families of those killed at work, but it will also force cultural change that will hopefully lead to fewer deaths at work. “

these are horrible stats  and I feel for all those who have lost loved ones...I do have a question crook....safety would have to be something everyone should be mindful of dont you think??..  the govt may be able to save one or two  but to save 400  I find that hard to believe .. all govts can do is make RULES.....we already have many rules   yet they dont stop people dying.......what I ask is.. where is the union delgate who also works on the site doing???.. if they know the site is unsafe why do they allow their members to risk their lives????...all they have to do is take photos with their smart phone  and say loud and clear I will not allow these men to put their lives in danger......  some accidents  cannot be avoided sadly  but most can..  we all need to stand up and be counted  when there is blatant dangerous work practices...

cods wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 7:56am:

these are horrible stats  and I feel for all those who have lost loved ones...I do have a question crook....safety would have to be something everyone should be mindful of dont you think??..  the govt may be able to save one or two  but to save 400  I find that hard to believe .. all govts can do is make RULES.....we already have many rules   yet they dont stop people dying.......what I ask is.. where is the union delgate who also works on the site doing???.. if they know the site is unsafe why do they allow their members to risk their lives????...all they have to do is take photos with their smart phone  and say loud and clear I will not allow these men to put their lives in danger......  some accidents  cannot be avoided sadly  but most can..  we all need to stand up and be counted  when there is blatant dangerous work practices...

That's exactly what Union Delegates do right now.

greggerypeccary wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 8:34am:

cods wrote on Apr 30th, 2021 at 7:56am: these are horrible stats  and I feel for all those who have lost loved ones...I do have a question crook....safety would have to be something everyone should be mindful of dont you think??..  the govt may be able to save one or two  but to save 400  I find that hard to believe .. all govts can do is make RULES.....we already have many rules   yet they dont stop people dying.......what I ask is.. where is the union delgate who also works on the site doing???.. if they know the site is unsafe why do they allow their members to risk their lives????...all they have to do is take photos with their smart phone  and say loud and clear I will not allow these men to put their lives in danger......  some accidents  cannot be avoided sadly  but most can..  we all need to stand up and be counted  when there is blatant dangerous work practices... That's exactly what Union Delegates do right now.

yet there are still 400 deaths on sites....something isnt working dont you think?... 

we have a lot of deaths on our roads....is it because of the govt or the roads???????.....crook seems to think its always the govts fault  and they are the only ones who can fix it.....I disagree....they bring in a heap of rules  and the average worker believes their site is safe......the fact we all break rules doesnt matter!

cods wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 8:41am:

greggerypeccary wrote on Apr 30th, 2021 at 8:34am: cods wrote on Apr 30th, 2021 at 7:56am: these are horrible stats  and I feel for all those who have lost loved ones...I do have a question crook....safety would have to be something everyone should be mindful of dont you think??..  the govt may be able to save one or two  but to save 400  I find that hard to believe .. all govts can do is make RULES.....we already have many rules   yet they dont stop people dying.......what I ask is.. where is the union delgate who also works on the site doing???.. if they know the site is unsafe why do they allow their members to risk their lives????...all they have to do is take photos with their smart phone  and say loud and clear I will not allow these men to put their lives in danger......  some accidents  cannot be avoided sadly  but most can..  we all need to stand up and be counted  when there is blatant dangerous work practices... That's exactly what Union Delegates do right now. yet there are still 400 deaths on sites....something isnt working dont you think?...

Absolutely.

You can't blame the Unions though.

400 deaths at work.

if they added the deaths attributed to road fatalities for truck drivers, it would be more than double that.

Companies do not deliberately set up workplaces to harm of kill workers.

But many could do better.

Most work injuries I dealt with in my employment were because a worker did the wrong thing or tried to take a shortcut.
Using the wrong tools or not wearing the right safety gear.

But its not all worker fault
Lack of adequate training, employing the wrong people, sometimes pushing too hard  all contribute.

Is there an answer?

Probably not

But every time I see;
Someone mowing or whipper snippers in thongs, shorts and without safety glasses.
Someone using power tools without safety glasses
Someone using circular saws without guarding.
and my favorite
Someone using power tools with no training or understanding of the tools

I think......Hmmmmm, these people do not know what safety is.

Every week far more than 4 people are killed on the roads

Isn't it fascinating that your commute to work is more dangerous then your time spent at work

You are far more likely to be killed driving to work then when you are under the care of your wonderful Noble employer

The workers of Australia really need to fall to their knees and give praise to their employers for the incredible effort they put in to keep them safe

I know gratitude is a word not in white knights vocabulary
But statistics  prove that these incredibly small numbers call for some gratitude to we The Noble employers

aquascoot wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 9:28am:

Every week far more than 4 people are killed on the roads Isn't it fascinating that your commute to work is more dangerous then your time spent at work You are far more likely to be killed driving to work then when you are under the care of your wonderful Noble employer The workers of Australia really need to fall to their knees and give praise to their employers for the incredible effort they put in to keep them safe I know gratitude is a word not in white knights vocabulary But statistics  prove that these incredibly small numbers call for some gratitude to we The Noble employers

I believe we should all fall to our knees and give praise if you ever stop posting BS like that.

Every worker should have the right to be able to go home safe to their families at the end of the working day.

---

Workplace safety is the responsibility of everyone, employers and workers.  Valkies post above explains it well.

Are they all men?

Just asking..........

greggerypeccary wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 8:34am:

cods wrote on Apr 30th, 2021 at 7:56am: these are horrible stats  and I feel for all those who have lost loved ones...I do have a question crook....safety would have to be something everyone should be mindful of dont you think??..  the govt may be able to save one or two  but to save 400  I find that hard to believe .. all govts can do is make RULES.....we already have many rules   yet they dont stop people dying.......what I ask is.. where is the union delgate who also works on the site doing???.. if they know the site is unsafe why do they allow their members to risk their lives????...all they have to do is take photos with their smart phone  and say loud and clear I will not allow these men to put their lives in danger......  some accidents  cannot be avoided sadly  but most can..  we all need to stand up and be counted  when there is blatant dangerous work practices... That's exactly what Union Delegates do right now.

Unless they are hounded off sites by poor widdle management, or are accused of standover for trying to get in to review complaints about safety, or, if they are on-site delegates, are targeted by 'management' to try to shut them up.

Get off what you're doing, Peccary, and get back to work.... you're losing touch with the people on the coalface.

Valkie wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 9:20am:

400 deaths at work. if they added the deaths attributed to road fatalities for truck drivers, it would be more than double that. Companies do not deliberately set up workplaces to harm of kill workers. But many could do better. Most work injuries I dealt with in my employment were because a worker did the wrong thing or tried to take a shortcut. Using the wrong tools or not wearing the right safety gear. But its not all worker fault Lack of adequate training, employing the wrong people, sometimes pushing too hard  all contribute. Is there an answer? Probably not But every time I see; Someone mowing or whipper snippers in thongs, shorts and without safety glasses. Someone using power tools without safety glasses Someone using circular saws without guarding. and my favorite Someone using power tools with no training or understanding of the tools I think......Hmmmmm, these people do not know what safety is.

thats usually "fat steve" at home on the weekend.

thank god, during the week he has his caring employer to keep him safe.

"fat janeen" certainly isnt

aquascoot wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 9:28am:

Every week far more than 4 people are killed on the roads Isn't it fascinating that your commute to work is more dangerous then your time spent at work You are far more likely to be killed driving to work then when you are under the care of your wonderful Noble employer The workers of Australia really need to fall to their knees and give praise to their employers for the incredible effort they put in to keep them safe I know gratitude is a word not in white knights vocabulary But statistics  prove that these incredibly small numbers call for some gratitude to we The Noble employers

What is wrong with you? You think 4 a week is acceptable? That nothing should be done about it? Nothing can be done about car accidents (which BTW has nothing to do with the topic)

Spot

Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 12:29pm:

Are they all men? Just asking..........

The workforce I controlled were predominantly men.

The machines were huge, dirty and have very heavy components.

Women tended to stay clear of this particular industry.

BUT.....

We had an electronics section in which several women were employed.

Percentage wise, it was about on par, but women had generally less severe injuries due to the nature of the work.

But soldering iron burns, cuts, punctures, and foreign bodies in eyes were the norm.

Again, it came down to using the right tools (not a screwdriver to separate components)
Taking care when handling hot tools, being aware that material you have just cut will be sharp, or wearing gloves.
And wearing safety glasses at all times in the workshop.

I had a woman present with some metal shavings in her eye when she took off her glasses after cutting the PCB and flicking the board up with the waste flying into her eye.

There is no differentiation when it comes to stupidity in both male and female.

What can you say when you have Italians having to deal with idiot Moslems on the worksite?

...accidents happen.

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 1:07pm:

aquascoot wrote on Apr 30th, 2021 at 9:28am: Every week far more than 4 people are killed on the roads Isn't it fascinating that your commute to work is more dangerous then your time spent at work You are far more likely to be killed driving to work then when you are under the care of your wonderful Noble employer The workers of Australia really need to fall to their knees and give praise to their employers for the incredible effort they put in to keep them safe I know gratitude is a word not in white knights vocabulary But statistics  prove that these incredibly small numbers call for some gratitude to we The Noble employers What is wrong with you? You think 4 a week is acceptable? That nothing should be done about it? Nothing can be done about car accidents (which BTW has nothing to do with the topic) Spot

I was in China when we lost 1 man.
Under a 22 ton machine when the jack slipped.
He had no chance, crushed his chest and head in one go.

They were back at work an hour later.
Hosed off the floor and took the body away
In Australia you would be shut down for a week at least, full investigation and heavy fines.
Possibly the company would close.

But in fairness, the jack was placed by the worker and not adequately checked before he went under the machine.
Additionally, we used a Bracestop (more of a big metal block) which, in case the machine moved or the jack slipped would take the machine mass. 
This was sitting alongside the machine, he didn't fit it for some reason.

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 1:07pm:

aquascoot wrote on Apr 30th, 2021 at 9:28am: Every week far more than 4 people are killed on the roads Isn't it fascinating that your commute to work is more dangerous then your time spent at work You are far more likely to be killed driving to work then when you are under the care of your wonderful Noble employer The workers of Australia really need to fall to their knees and give praise to their employers for the incredible effort they put in to keep them safe I know gratitude is a word not in white knights vocabulary But statistics  prove that these incredibly small numbers call for some gratitude to we The Noble employers What is wrong with you? You think 4 a week is acceptable? That nothing should be done about it? Nothing can be done about car accidents (which BTW has nothing to do with the topic) Spot

what is wrong with YOU.

4 a week is an incredible success story.

you think it should be zero.

you think humans can create a risk free environment

thats because you have never had a job probably.

accidents happen all the time.

4 people a week from the whole of australia is an incredibly low number

grow a brain

Quote:

DIY and dogs fingered for an epidemic of hand injuries JAMES MACSMITH Hand injury X-ray. OVERCONFIDENT home handymen and angry dogs are creating an epidemic of serious hand injuries. Hospitals, GPs and clinics are witnessing exponential growth in the presentation of significant hand injuries, with errant power tools and over-protective dog owners the leading victims. But the majority of these incidents can be easily avoided. The incidence of patients with hand injuries presenting at clinics due to do-it-yourself mishaps at home has risen by around 70 per cent over the past five years, a leading clinical nurse has estimated. Patients visiting hand clinics with dog bites has risen by around 50 per cent over the same period. It’s a largely preventable surge in serious injuries that health authorities are desperately keen to reverse. “We see it all — severed fingers, amputated fingers, deep lacerations, soft tissue injuries, broken bones, tendon injuries and they can all take a long time to heal,” Kay Maddison, clinical nurse consultant for hand surgery at the Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital said. “There is the trauma of the accident and the injury itself but it’s more than just that. There is the micro surgery, the hours of delicate surgery, that in the worst cases can mean amputated or partially amputated hands or fingers. “In many cases, immobilisation and therapy are needed. Patients might not be able to use the injured finger or hand for weeks, even months and they might never have the same functionality again.” Ms Maddison said the majority of injuries were caused when those using power tools were rushing the job or lost concentration. In other common cases, pet owners might try to unwisely intervene in a dogfight and suffer unintended consequences. “We see an awful lot of DIY,” she said “And it is usually the same messaging coming through: ‘I wasn’t thinking about what I was doing. I didn’t prepare properly. I was distracted. I was rushing’ “It can happen in a split second but can have long-lasting consequences.”

cods wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 7:56am:

these are horrible stats  and I feel for all those who have lost loved ones...I do have a question crook....safety would have to be something everyone should be mindful of dont you think??..  the govt may be able to save one or two  but to save 400  I find that hard to believe .. all govts can do is make RULES.....we already have many rules   yet they dont stop people dying.......what I ask is.. where is the union delgate who also works on the site doing???.. if they know the site is unsafe why do they allow their members to risk their lives????...all they have to do is take photos with their smart phone  and say loud and clear I will not allow these men to put their lives in danger......  some accidents  cannot be avoided sadly  but most can..  we all need to stand up and be counted  when there is blatant dangerous work practices...

Under the libs rules, Union delegates are no longer allowed onto the work site if the company says no to them.