Everyone has the right to safety at work, and nothing unites workers quicker than when their employer places them at risk of harm or injury.

Over the past few months, HSU delegates and elected Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) have raised Work Health and Safety concerns directly with ACL. Unfortunately, these concerns fell largely on deaf ears.

Because of this, your elected HSRs exercised their powers under the Work Health and Safety Act. With assistance from the union, they took the necessary steps to ensure workers’ rights to safety were enforced and referred concerns to SafeWork NSW.

Yesterday, your HSRs and ACL met with SafeWork Inspectors to discuss the concerns.  Following this, the SafeWork Inspectors have issued two improvement notices relating to:

1. Implementing an agreed consultation process related to Work Health and Safety matters.
2. Implementing an agreed process for issue resolution related to Work Health and Safety matters.

ACL will be given three months to comply with them or risk further notices or legal action. They will also be required to display these notices to all employees in prominent places and/or via electronic means.

Union members have put ACL on notice that we will not tolerate continued risks. This is non-negotiable - they must put people before profit when it comes to decisions which affect workers’ health and safety.

There is still a long way to go, but HSU members will always fight for safety in the workplace. If any of your colleagues are not yet members of the union, tell them to join and add their voice.

New members can join at www.hsu.asn.au/join or call 1300 478 679.