I’ve been attending construction projects across the state to conduct safety inspections. This allows me to:
- Inspect any plant, substance or other thing at the workplace.
- Observe work.
- Take photographs or measurements or make sketches or recordings (both audio or video) at the place.
- Talk to workers.
- Talk to the employer about anything relevant to the suspected contravention.
Safety contraventions have been detected at several sites. These have related to issues such as outdated and damaged PPE, fatigue, accreditations/qualifications, access and egress, and general site safety. I will continue these site visits where members raise concerns to check on and uphold the safety of all RTBU members.
Several dispute notices have also been issued recently. These have included notices issued to Morson relating to breaches of the enterprise agreement where safeworkers were rostered for continuous 12 hour shifts on the 40 day Southern Program Alliance (SPA) shutdown. This is a reminder to check your EA shift provisions and get in contact where necessary.
Coleman/Acciona were also issued a notice of dispute over a lack of consultation on the implementation of a new app designed to log shift sign ons and flag applicable allowances saving paperwork and time. The catch however is that the app asks members to allow tracking while on shift and the company had not allowed members any time to ask questions or understand how or why this app will be used, or how the data will be managed.
2023 marks the end of several EA negotiations in the project/labour hire space with several more under negotiation.
Delegate meetings are now taking place for the V/Line Infrastructure EA to establish a formal log of claims. If any members have anything they wish to add on their EA log of claims, please raise them with your Delegate for discussion and I will keep you updated as consultation begins around these issues.
Finally, with the cold and wet weather here it is important to remember that the inclement weather clauses in your EAs are there for a reason. These clauses also work in hand in hand with the OHS Act and are there to keep everyone safe.
The RTBU has fought hard over many years to ensure members go home safe. If it is raining, don’t work.
Where performing critical works (concrete pour, water/power failures etc) you are to get inclement weather allowance for every hour. Critical does not include works that are running late or need to be done, they are jobs that cannot stop.
Remember “IF RAIN DROPS, WORK STOPS”
If you have any issues relating to safety on site or want to arrange a prestart or site visit please call me on 0403 863 869.