OHS REPS @ WORK

The Victorian Trades Hall Council today welcomed the $100,000 fine imposed on national retail chain, Clints Crazy Bargains, following the serious injury of a female employee.

VTHC acting secretary Nathan Niven said that negligent employers should be on notice following the successful WorkSafe prosecution.

"Thousands of Victorian workers suffer from largely preventable back, neck, shoulder and other musculo-skeletal injuries each year despite the fact that employers are required under law to provide safe and healthy workplaces.

"Victoria has had Manual Handling regulations in place since 1988. During that period there have been less than a handful of successful prosecutions. Finally it appears that employers who ignore their duties under the law could face hefty fines," Mr Niven said.

The Warehouse Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, trading as Clints Crazy Bargains, was found guilty of failing to provide a safe workplace, and failing to have a safe system of work for employees unpacking pallets in the storeroom.

In January 2002, a female worker was told to unload eight pallets of stock on her own during a 5 hour shift. Her pleas for help went unheeded, so she continued to work unassisted. She returned home with an aching back and leg and was directed to unload more pallets the next day.

The worker suffered a serious back injury that required surgery as a result of this work.

WorkSafe acting executive director Rob Sheers said that the $100,000 penalty sent a strong message to employers that "failing to provide a safe workplace can hurt their bottom line as well as causing lifelong debilitating injuries."

The ACTU will launch its national health and safety campaign under the title "Work Strain Causes Real Pain - No body should put up with it" in March this year.