The Union representing workers at ACT Corrections, the CPSU, has today welcomed the move by Worksafe ACT to shut down the Court Transport Unit Facility under the Supreme Court by issuing a Prohibition Notice after silica was identified.
CPSU Regional Secretary Madeline Northam said “CPSU members have been raising serious concerns about their working environment since they were relocated to the new facility, which isn’t even completely built yet. Management have ignored these issues, which is how we got here.”
“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. They only have access to one emergency exit, which is absolutely unacceptable. This doesn’t just impact on staff, but any detainees, including young people, that have been through the facility.”
“The CPSU is calling on the government to commit to ongoing health monitoring for any worker potentially exposed to silica. 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. Any moves to obfuscate their responsibility to the health and safety of workers will be treated seriously by the union.”
“The CPSU will work closely with members, management, Worksafe ACT and the government to make sure these serious health and safety issues are addressed immediately”
