Australian workers need stronger health and safety protections: review welcome

Unions have welcomed today’s announcement by the federal Labor Government of a national review of workplace health and safety laws.

With an estimated 6,700 Australian workplace deaths each year and some indications that the number has been rising, the review is an important first step in improving workplace health and safety standards and is sorely needed say unions.

" Australian workers need stronger health and safety protections and unions will seek new safeguards through this review," ACTU President Sharan Burrow said.

" Australia's death toll from workplace accidents or illnesses is estimated to be around 6,700 a year.

" Even yesterday another tragic workplace death was reported with an electricity tradesman dying while working to repair power lines damaged in the recent storms in Victoria.

" The Australian Bureau of Statistics also estimates there are around 680,000 workplace injuries or illnesses a year.

"At the same time that the death toll from work was outstripping the national road toll, the former Liberal Government downgraded national health and safety protections and workplace compensation standards.

" The former Howard Government abolished the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) and replaced it with a government agency that had fewer resources and less power to safeguard workers.

" The former Liberal Government took away workers' rights with Work Choices and undermined workplace health and safety protections and compensation.

" This review is another step towards restoring workers' rights including the right of every Australian to go to work and arrive home without an injury or workplace-induced illness," said Ms Burrow.