AUSTRALIAN WORKERS UNION | SA BRANCH
HEALTH & SAFETY
Reducing death, injury and illness at work is a top priority for our Union
If you’re confronted with a health or safety issue at work, you don’t have to deal with it alone contact us and we can help. Workers need to have their say when it comes to workplace safety because it is an issue that affects them directly.
All workers have a right to elect their workmates to be their representatives about health and safety issues. Health and safety reps are important watchdogs in the workplace to make sure employers comply with the law. These reps have rights to proper resources and training.
We can provide a wealth of expertise, resources, know-how and training to help health and safety reps perform their role. And if there are any problems or issues, workers and their reps should always know the union is there to back them up.
Protection for workers
Many protections and rights we take for granted were fought for and won by unions. These include workers’ compensation; rest breaks; protective clothing; restrictions on lifting heavy objects; licences and training when working with heavy equipment; as well as bans on asbestos and dangerous chemicals.
Workers have rights to:
- A safe and healthy working environment
- Know what health and safety hazards they are exposed to at work and a right to be involved in and negotiate how hazards are dealt with
- Determine who represents them on health and safety issues and
- Refuse unsafe work
Workplace Health and Safety Websites
Every state and territory in Australia has differrent safety guidelines and codes. You can find links to the various state based workplace health and safety websites for more information about health and safety at work.
Safe Work Australia
SafeWork SA
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SafeWork SA – www.safework.sa.gov.au
Legislation SA –www.legislation.sa.gov.au
WHS Act – Work Health and Safety Act 2012