
Issue No 89		23 March 2001

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News

Its Time for Carr to Act on Safey on Building Sites

By HT Lee

In the last three months three serious accidents have occurred on NSW Government construction sites resulting in two workers loosing their legs and one death.

Crane driver Pat Portlock lost his leg at the M5 East accident in early January; 20 year old Brent Leadbetter lost his leg at the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital site on Wednesday 21 March; and a worker in his late 50s was crushed to death at the Narrabeen Sports Centre yesterday.

All these accidents occurred after the Olympics when there is a downturn in the building industry which is becoming a 'dog eat dog' industry--subbies are being forced to cut prices to get jobs--safety as always suffers.

Instead of taking a lead in safety on sites, the NSW Labor Government has failed in its obligations. The memorandum of understanding the Labor Government had with the unions before the Olympics seems to have been extinguished together with the Olympic flame. Safety on sites--especially government sites--no longer seems to be important. Getting the job done as cheaply as possible now prevails.

The M5 East project

In early January a mobile crane collapsed at the Baulderstone M5 East project. The crane driver Pat Portlock was trapped for 10 hours before he was rescued--the damaged was done and his right leg had to be amputated.

The safety and unsafe work practice was a major issue. Baulderstone was issued with over 300 BTG rectification notices by he construction union the CFMEU and the Building Trades Group (BTG) of Unions. WorkCover issued three prohibition and eleven improvement notices.

RPA Hospital

Brent Leadbetter, a 20 year old 3rd year apprentice bricklayer at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) fell through the penetration of the air-conditioned duct from the 6th floor to the 3rd floor. He suffered head injury, internal injury and a compound leg fracture. His leg had to be amputated below his knee.

The area he was working was poorly lid. The penetration mash was not properly secured and was not in one piece. The mash had a 5mm layer of cement which gave the impression it was solid concrete. The were no signage pointing out the area is just a penetration mesh. On some floors the penetration areas were not fenced off.

It was a Theiss job. However, Theiss was not the principal contactor--it was the project manager.

In this arrangement there are subbies--all subbies on sites are contractors and therefore are responsible for everything on site--if they are working in an area they have to provide everything, including the lightings.

However, all method of work statements had to be submitted to Theiss. But the site safety committee were not shown the work statements for input and discussion.

Making all subbies contractors is no different from making all workers signing individual contracts--it is the same principal--why is a Labor Government condoning such practices?

Narrabeen Sports Centre

The accident at the Narrabeen occurred when the rigger was unloading large steel structure--the lifting system failed and the structure collapsed and crushed the worker to death.

It appears the plant and equipment on site has not been properly checked and the crew involved was not given induction.

Carr must act

Its time for Premier Carr to act. He must not allow safety to be compromised. He must take the lead by making sure all State Government projects comply with the safety standards.

He must also make sure WorkCover is out there in the field making sure all sites are safe for the workers. Its no point sending millions of dollars on advertising if the bosses keep risking the lives of workers.

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Issue 89 contents

Interview: Paddy Takes the Helm
Irish, internationalist, republican, socialist & seafarer - Paddy Crumlin intends taking the old traditions of the labour left into the 21st century, the community and cyberspace.

Unions: Breaking the Mould
Mark Hearn looks at how women union delegates are helping to change the culture in the traditionally male bastion of glassworking.

Legal: Washing Their Hands
Mark Morey outlines how Liberal neglect of the working visa system has led to exploitation of guest workers.

International: Violence Betrays Shangri-La
Shangri-La hotel union members carrying a coffin marked Robert Kuok have been assaulted and beaten by police in Jakarta.

Economics: Corporations: Different Than You and Me
Corporations are fundamentally different than you and me. That's a simple truth that Big Business leaders desperately hope the public will not perceive.

History: The Steel Octopus
Be prepared for a flood of Nostalgia from the media about the �Big Australian�, as it prepares to flee our shores and finally internationalise its digging operations. Workers won�t forget BHP�s less than worker friendly past and present (and no doubt it�s future).

Review: Mean Nation
John Allen charts the fall and fall of philanthropy in Australian society.

Satire: Ryan 'A Big Wake-Up Call For Me': Beazley
The narrow victory to Labor in the Ryan by-election has delivered a big slap in the face to Leader of the Opposition Kim Beazley.

» Abbott and �Drinking Buddy� Under Microscope

» Working Visas: Ruddock Sells Dump to Abbott

» Tourist Guides Bussed In

» Fair Wear Holds Breath as Carr Celebrates

» Labor to Restore Public Sector�s Dignity

» Its Time for Carr to Act on Safey on Building Sites

» Bread Maker Slices Workforce

» Workers Show Grace Under Pressure

» Engineers Win BHP Redundancy Case

» Transport Drug Pushers Not Charged

» Training Body Needs $150 Million to Cope with Growth

» HIH Urged To Safeguard Employee Entitlements

» Carr Proposal For Public Schools Flawed

» Human Smirk Returns to Spiritual Home

» McGauchie Appointment Draws MUA Fire

» Bove Loses McDonald's Raid Appeal

» James Hardie Called to Account

» Australasian Union Organising Conference

» Activist Notebook