Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten today announced the impact of unsafe workplaces on Australian society and the economy must be reduced.
Revellers huddle in packs, shouting over blaring music and each other to be heard. Somewhere, laughter bursts out as a full glass drops to the floor and smashes. The stench of beer-soaked carpet, cigarettes and cologne fills the air. A cramped bar is packed with staff. Thirsty patrons grow restless, lunging forward to place their orders. At this Prahran pub, it’s a normal Saturday night’s work for bartender Jake Barker.
Jake thrusts his hand blindly through a wall of fellow bartenders, groping in vain for the glasses he needs but aren’t there. Vodka Cranberry. Gin and Tonic. 2 pints, and a house red. Pivoting, Jake makes for the glass washing-machine. Vodka Cranberry. Gin and Tonic. 2 pints, and a house red. How was he to know, throwing the machine’s door open and yanking out the glass rack, someone had used that rack to wash glasses? The rack-come-stepladder to the top shelf liquor, riddled with gaping holes. The rack everybody knew of, but nobody spoke about. The rack that was meant to be thrown out, but never was. The accident waiting to happen.
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Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten will today kick off a campaign calling on workers to speak up about workplace safety.
“I’m urging people to speak up about unsafe work practices and to take the gag off,” Mr Shorten told the Herald Sun.
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Jake instinctively throws his hand out to catch the falling glasses. Somebody screams. For a moment, the pub is silent. His finger flops limply. Blood spurts out. Two tendons. One artery. One nerve. 30 hours in a waiting room. Two surgeries. Nearly five months off work. Almost $3,000 in compensation. A writing-hand that will never make a fist again.
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For Assa Abloy Workplace Safety coordinator Bill Cording, who over a career spanning 14 years has watched avoidable workplace accidents occur time and time again, this campaign couldn’t come soon enough.
“Consultation, awareness, and training need to be stepped up. A lot of people don’t speak up where they should. We’ve got to talk; what’s the problem, how are we going to fix it?” Mr Cording said.
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Mr Shorten today released reports published by Safe Work Australia showing work-related injury, illness and fatalities greatly impact Australian society and come at a significant cost to the national economy.
“Workplace safety is not just about avoiding human tragedy it is also about reducing economic cost for the nation,” Mr Shorten said.
Safe Work Australia estimate the annual bill for workplace injuries and illness now exceeds $60 billion.
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Jake strains to curl his finger, looking down at his arm brace. “I should have paid more attention. I should have known better,” he mumbles, shaking his head, “but how was I to know?”
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Mr Shorten announced improving work health and safety is a real priority for the Gillard Government.
Mr Shorten will host the 7th Annual Safe Work Australia Awards at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday 26 April, which recognise and promote workplace safety awareness.
