Bullies Come Unstuck

A Lidcombe joinery firm has been fined $26,000 after a 16-year-old labourer was wrapped in cling wrap and had glue and sawdust forced into his mouth.

The NSW Chief Industrial Magistrate's decision extends New South Wales's workplace safety laws to cover bullying; this being the first time a company and its directors had been prosecuted for bullying under New South Wales occupational health and safety laws.

The court was told that the incident was allegedly part of an initiation ritual conducted by five workers, with management failing to intervene.

Concern was expressed by the court that an event of this type could have turned into something more serious.

Unions have welcomed the decision as sending a clear message about workplace harassment.

"Bullying, whether by workmates or employers, is unacceptable in the workplace," says CFMEU organiser Terry Kesby.

The news comes as Queensland moves to introduce tough new rules to crack down on the "modern workplace scourge" of bullying from June 1.

"The standard outlines what is and is not considered workplace harassment and highlights the workplace health and safety obligations of employers, workers and others." Says Queensland Employment, Training and Industrial Relations Minister, Tom Barton.

Queensland unions have welcomed the introduction of the Prevention of Workplace Harassment Advisory Standard 2004. Under the standards, a person subjected to repeated behaviour that is unwelcome and unsolicited constitutes harassment.

Queensland Council of Unions Assistant General Secretary, Chris Barrett, said the State Government deserved strong support from Queensland workers for showing leadership in an important area of workplace safety.

To discuss this and many other interesting OH & S topics visit our discussion boards at http://unionsafe.labor.net.au/shoptalk/

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:36 EST