Work Safety Blast

WORKCHOICES poses the biggest threat to the safety of Australian workers since asbestos, according to the Safety Institute of Australia.

"We believe WorkChoices is opening a Pandora's box of new health problems from stress and high workloads," the SIA's Victorian vice-president Kevin Jones said yesterday.

"It's the greatest threat to workers' health since asbestos because it harms people from all walks of life in such an insidious way and millions of Australians are being exposed to its potentially devastating effects."

The new federal industrial system looks set to be the hot topic at the 10th Safety in Action Conference to be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre March 20-22.

WorkSafe Victoria will be the event's sponsor.

And acting as host will be the Victorian chapter of the SIA, the non-profit, normally conservative body that represents about 4000 workplace safety professionals in government and the private sector nationwide.

"We are entirely independent and not connected with any employer associations or unions," Mr Jones stressed.

"Because we focus on occupational health and safety, we recently did a national survey of our members to see how they viewed the effects of WorkChoices.

"A majority said they believed that overall, the new legislation would have a negative impact on workers' health and safety."

Mr Jones warned that Australia faced an epidemic of stress-related illnesses in every section of the workforce -- "highly skilled occupations included" -- as numerous pressures including long hours, insecure employment and casualisation took their toll.

"A small percentage of employers still scoff at stress as a major factor in causing illness and injury, but that attitude is rather like being in denial about global warming," he said.

"There is no doubt that when people start trading off health and safety for longer working hours, they're more likely to have accidents and emotional problems. There is also no doubt that happy, stable workplaces enjoy greater productivity."

Source: Herald Sun