
Issue No 5		19 March 1999

News

Maccas Death Call

The death of a 19-year-old McDonalds worker highlights management's responsibility to provide safe work places and adequate training to young workers.

The fast food giant today pleaded guilty to breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act following the 1996 death of Michael Johnston who was electrocuted while cleaning kitchen equipment in McDonalds' Wollongong franchise.

According to facts tendered to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, the deceased worker had been in the job just two weeks and, while he had received training in the cleaning procedure, there was no instructions on cutting off the power to the grill before it was cleaned.

Labor Council secretary Michael Costa said the fatality was a tragic illustration of the need for safe working procedures, proper maintenance of equipment and detailed safety training for new workers.

"While the employer had taken steps to provide general training for the staff, it appears that the training for the kitchen equipment that killed the young worker was not adequate, " Mr Costa said.

"Safety needs to be elevated to the forefront of every worker's mind, so that it goes hand in hand with all other employment practices."

Mr Costa said the Labor Council was developing a training kit for secondary students, in cooperation with the WorkCover Authority.

The "Staying Alive" program would be piloted in selected schools this year, with plans to place it on the curriculum for all students in 2000.

"These initiatives are important, but they do not detract from the responsibility of management in ensuring that new workers receive basic levels of training," Mr Costa said.

"This is an issue of growing concern, particularly in the services sector where many workers are not protected by a trade union."

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Issue 5 contents

Interview: Towards An Information International
FIET general secretary Phillip Jennings talks about the development of the Union Network International and its potential to organise globally.

Unions: The Integral Price of Loyalty
Workers at Integral Energy are asking for their share of the fruits of power reform.

History: A Very Public History
Historian Ray Markey and Public Service Association General Secretary Janet Good take a look at the unionďż˝s first 100 years.

Review: Bullworth - Beattyďż˝s Political Rap
Warren Beatty makes some gutsy calls in his new film about a politician who, when all else fails, tries the truth.

Campaign Diary: The Ultimate Punt
As the leaders slug it through the final weeks of the campaign, the armchair critics get their chance to work their pet election theories.

» Streamlined ILO To Focus On ďż˝Decentďż˝ Work

» Kelty Sees Global Minimum Wage On Horizon

» International Superunion Given Go-Ahead

» FIET Takes Hammer To Debt Wall

» Is The World Bank Anti-Union?

» Lectures Cancelled Over University Pay Claim

» 100 Reasons Why Public Sector Unionism Will Survive

» Maccas Death Call

» Cleaners Time Out Hours Cut