An inquiry into coal mine safety in Queensland is told labour hire staff are disproportionately represented in mining deaths and faced reprisals when safety issues were raised.
abc.net.au/news/queensland-coal-mining-saftey-inquiry-deaths-safety-concerns/101707366An inquiry into coal mine safety in Queensland has been told contract workers and labour hire staff were disproportionately represented in mining deaths and when safety concerns were raised it led to reprisals.
"It's obvious contract or labour hire employees, whether they're permanent or casual, are vulnerable to reprisal for stopping the job for safety reasons, or even for simply raising safety issues.""Back to 2002 … in Queensland coal mines there've been 22 people killed; 16 contractors, six permanent," Mr Watts said.He said that when there have been complaints of reprisals for raising safety concerns, there has not been any action taken.
Ian Macfarlane, the head of the Queensland Resources Council, told the inquiry that miners need to be encouraged to speak up, and he recommended an annual forum to discuss the best ways to do that.
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