CPSU
Every October during National Safe Work month, we renew our focus on safety at work. Your health and safety is always the highest priority for our union.
Every day CPSU Health and Safety Representatives work to keep their colleagues safe at work. Here's a snapshot of recent gains in keeping members safe at work.
- When the CPSU identified a Services Australia site with no smoke or fire alarms, union campaigning quickly secured safety improvements at the site, as well as a national fire safety audit to systematically review fire safety arrangements for all Services Australia service centres nationally.
- Insecure job can be a significant source of stress and uncertainty, becoming a significant health and safety risk. When the CPSU took a case to the Fair Work Commission to stop APS agencies from denying ongoing employment to casual employees who are eligible for conversion under new casual conversion laws, the Fair Work Commission found in favour of the CPSU. The loop-hole that allowed APS agencies to deny eligible casuals ongoing employment because there was "no existing vacancy" has now been removed, stopping agencies from side-stepping the new laws.
- When RV Linnaeus, a CSIRO research vessel was docked due to engine failure, CSIRO's interim solution of hiring a commercial charter to undertake research work prompted health and safety concerns. After an HSR and delegate raised safety concerns, CSIRO agreed to retain and repair research vessel Linnaeus.
- After 2 years of campaigning against unreasonable workloads in the NDIA, multiple disputes and work health and safety actions, Comcare confirmed earlier this year that the NDIA was in contravention of section 19 of the Work Health & Safety Act for failing to provide safe systems of work. This was the first time that an APS agency has been found in breach of the WHS Act for unreasonable workloads.
Where can you get advice and support?
This Safe Work month sign in to your Member Portal and have a look at the Workplace Health and Safety resources.
Your Workplace Health and Safety (sign in for these member-only resources)
- Your Health and Safety Representative/s.
- Know your WHS rights factsheets.
- Mindset Matters: Making workplace mental health a priority.
- Workplace posters on WHS laws.
- All our latest WHS news and media.
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