Victorian workplace deaths rise by 17%

The Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC) has demanded a policy reversal 
from the State Liberal Opposition on the recently defeated Crimes 
(Workplace Deaths and Serious Injuries) Bill. The call comes following the 
release of figures showing a 17 percent rise in Victorian workplace 
fatalities. The Bill provides for criminal sanctions against grossly 
negligent employers.

There were 34 fatalities in the 2001/2002 financial year, with more than 60 
per cent of the deaths occurring in rural or regional areas.

There have been 18 deaths reported this year to date. This is 18 too many.

The State Opposition and Victorian employer groups argued against the Bill 
on the basis that workplace fatalities had been in "steady decline" since 
the introduction of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in 1985.

The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a media 
release in March 2002, said the legislation was unnecessary due to the 
decline in fatalities.

"WorkSafe's own figures show a steady decline in workplace injuries and 
deaths since the Occupational Health and Safety Act was introduced in 1985.

"Why then, when the current co-operative framework has been working, is the 
Government looking at introducing a punitive new system?"

If the "co-operative framework" has been working so well, then what have 
employers to fear?

If they were doing all that they could to provide a safe and healthy 
working environment for their employees, then they would have nothing to 
fear from the Bill.

The reality is that when it comes to making profits, workers' health and 
safety far too often comes second — unless the measures do not cost money.

"We need legislation to punish those few who operate so far outside the law 
that their actions cause the death, and serious injury of workers", VTHC 
Secretary, Leigh Hubbard said.

"If the ACCC [Australian Competition and Consumer Commission] can make a 
reasoned argument for tougher sanctions, including jail sentences, for 
collusion by big business, why not apply the same logic to the crime of 
gross negligence in the workplace?"

The defeat of the Crimes Bill acts as a signal to employers that they can 
cut corners, put workers' health and safety at risk, and if a few workers 
get killed, never mind, the company may have to pay out a few dollars.

Employer and Liberal Party opposition to criminal prosecution of individual 
employers for deaths caused by their negligence reflects the contempt that 
they have for workers.

To them workers are commodities, and like machinery, if they can no longer 
work, throw them on the scrap heap and get a replacement.

Australia has an extremely poor workplace fatality record in comparison to 
other industrialised nations. For every 70 workers killed at work in
Australia, 53 are killed in the United States and 14 are killed in the 
United Kingdom.