ANY cuts to Electrical Safety Office (ESO) will increase electrocution risks … ETU 

 

Union fears more on the way as Government takes axe to safety

Media Release.

Any loss of life due to savage cuts to workplace and electrical safety regimes will be on the Premiers head the Electrical Trades Union said today.
In a scathing attack on the Newman Governments lack of experience and a total disregard for workplace and public safety the ETU has urged the premier to come clean and tell Queenslanders why the Government is attacking safety.
ETU Deputy Secretary Keith McKenzie expressed outrage that the Government had a Bill before parliament that will take the axe to Electrical Safety Act first implemented in 2002.
“The Act came in place following recommendations from a taskforce report into the number of deaths caused by electricity, this Bill before parliament will take the axe to the significant provisions of the Act”
The Bill will abolish the role of “Commissioner of Electrical Safety as well as the Electrical Safety Education Committee and the Electrical Equipment Committee. The latest attack on safety comes hot on the heels of the August leaked document outlining cuts to the justice administration. Hidden in the wording of that document was a seemingly innocuous statement that outlined major cuts to safety regimes.
“Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and The Electrical Safety Office inspectorate numbers will be reviewed to bring them into line with Victorian and New South Wales”
However according to the ETU a closer look at the numbers shows this “review” has already factored in a massive reduction in inspectorate numbers and savings of $3 m over 2 years.
“This is yet another example of this government taking the axe to a crucial frontline service that played a vital role in rebuilding Queensland after the recent natural disasters a service that does the essential tasks of checking safety switches and wiring, any reduction in these functions will put Queenslanders at risk. If the premier fails to rethink these massive cuts to this front line service, his government will be exposed to a “pink batts” type crisis and the inevitable increase in health and safety related - work stoppages, injuries and deaths”
“Any reduction in already stretched ESO and Workplace Health & Safety inspector numbers will increase the risks of electrocution, particularly in light of the massive rollout of solar panels with 110,000 Queenslanders lodging applications with either Energex or Ergon in the two weeks before the July 9 cut-off,” he said.
For further comment
Keith McKenzie (ETU Deputy Secretary) 0419 721 056
Scott Reichman (ETU State organiser) 0437 184 399
Andrew Irvine (Media officer) 0448 633 858