We won!

Members who work in the kitchen at Heritage Botany approached the HSU and expressed their concern about the heat stress in the kitchen caused by exposure to excessive heat. The HSU contacted the management of both Heritage Care Botany and Catering Industries on the 15th of January, requesting the implementation of proper measures to mitigate the impact of any safety-related issues caused by the excessive heat in the kitchen.

As a result, the NSW Operations Manager of Heritage Care confirmed today in correspondence to the HSU that “[a] new air conditioning system has been approved by Heritage Care's CEO to be installed in the main kitchen. This is scheduled to be completed by Friday 22.1.21”.

Members’ safety at your workplace is our utmost concern. The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 requires employers to ensure that workers working in extreme heat are able to carry their work without risk to their health and safety. The heat factors are not limited to the highest temperature of the day, but also the indoor air temperature, humidity, amount of air movement or wind speed, and also the type of physical activity being done. Make sure that your working environment is safe for you.

Well done for speaking up for yourself and your workmates. Regardless of your job in the aged care industry, you are all frontline health workers.

If you have any ongoing concerns, please contact your Organiser Hyojung Kim at [E-Mail not displayed] or 0458 012 322.

If you know someone who hasn’t yet joined the Union, talk to them about the importance of standing together. We are always stronger together. Joining is easy: just visit www.hsu.asn.au/join or call 1300 478 679.