An order by Worksafe ACT that the Transport Unit Facility under the Supreme Court be closed down after silica was identified has been welcomed by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU).
Regional Secretary of the CPSU, Madeline Northam said the union’s members had raised serious concerns about their working environment since they were relocated to the new facility, which isn’t completely built yet.
“Management have failed to provide workers with any emergency procedures, no evacuation maps and staff have been waiting on a lunch room since they moved in,” Ms Northam said.
“They only have access to one emergency exit, which is absolutely unacceptable,” she said.
“This doesn’t just impact on staff, but any detainees, including young people, that have been through the facility.”
Ms Northam said the CPSU was calling on the government to commit to ongoing health monitoring for any worker potentially exposed to silica at the site.
“The government also needs to commit to providing a safe working environment for workers, which starts with consulting with workers and the union straight away.”
She said the union would work closely with its members, management, Worksafe ACT and the Government to make sure that serious health and safety issues are addressed immediately.
