Construction Crusade Leading to Injuries

The AMWU will investigate a Newcastle building site at the centre of serious injuries to a 21-year-old apprentice for “as long as it takes”.

A joint AMWU-CFMEU investigation is uncovering numerous safety breeches at the John Hunter Hospital site, including unidentified hazards, inadequate consultation and major electrical problems.

AMWU organiser Steve Murphy said the accident, in which apprentice Cameron Ayliffe was crushed in a scissor lift, was the result of a culmination of problems being uncovered.

"We want to get everything right so we don't have to come back here and do this again," Murphy said.

Murphy said the Howard Government's push towards self-regulation at worksites would lead to more accidents.

He said workers at the site were initially intimidated from speaking out about health and safety issues, because of the Federal Government's recently passed Building Industry Improvement Act.

The Act gives wide-ranging powers for employers to take action against employees over industrial action.

But Murphy said workers still had a right to safe workplaces.

"Howard's legislation is not addressing anything in terms of maintaining health and safety," he said.

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