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Issue No. 211 | 05 March 2004 |
Be Afraid
Interview: Baby Bust Safety: Dust To Dust Bad Boss: Shaming in Print National Focus: Work's Cripplin' Us International: Bulk Bullies History: The Battle for Kelly's Bush Economics: Aid, Trade And Oil Review: The Art Of Work Poetry: Sew His Lips Together
Taskforce "Disgraced" in Court Jockeys Down by Width of Strait Bracks Spin Machine Towels Nurses Good Will Still Hunting on Rail Developer "Monsters" Safety Cop
The Soapbox Sport Politics Postcard
Crucifying Refugees Saving The Planet
Labor Council of NSW |
News Developer "Monsters" Safety Cop
The site, which contained broken asbestos and glass amongst other hazards, was open to the public - with local children "playing" in the semi-demolished building. Building materials blocked the footpath, forcing young mothers and children from an adjacent school to use a busy narrow roadway. The complaints from parents led to a picket of the site by the CFMEU, whose OHS officer, Dick Whitehead, overheard the "monstering" of the WorkCover inspector by developer, Eugene Benson, via his mobile phone. An inspector had attended the site on a Saturday morning and had been on the phone to Whitehead when Benson, who has a number of AVOs out on him - including one from Manly MP David Barr, began screaming and shouting at the inspector. "If I knew it was [Benson] I would have immediately called the police," says Whitehead. "It was the next best thing to verbal assault and intimidation. It left him in a bad way." The inspector returned on the following Monday accompanied by other WorkCover inspectors and members of the Police who shut down the site. The CFMEU responded by immediately placing a picket on the site in order to protect the public. "The site was an absolute mess,' says Whitehead. "There were no amenities, including first aid. No licensed demolition contractor." "None of the demolition had been done in the correct order." Whitehead pointed out that the4 CFMEU was not only concerned about the health of building workers, but also the public. This follows the deaths of members of the public in recent times through poor safety practices on building sites. "There's not enough care taken when it comes to members of the public,' says Whitehead. "It could be your wife, or your neighbour."
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