BHP Deaths Require New Safety Powers

Date: 24 May 2004

A new Western Australian Government inquiry into BHP Billiton should have the power to prosecute if the company is found negligent over a series of deaths and injuries to iron ore workers in the Pilbara, the Australian Workers' Union said today.

AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten said that the inquiry should also establish new safety standards for the increasing number of contractors working in the industry. Four of the six workers killed or seriously injured in the last month were contractors.

Mr Shorten and Western Australian AWU representatives will meet this Wednesday (May 26) with WA State Development Minister Clive Brown to discuss the terms of reference for the independent review. The inquiry was announced yesterday (Sunday May 23) by Mr Brown after three fatal incidents in as many weeks at the company's Pilbara operations. Three other workers were seriously injured.

"Three deaths in as many weeks indicate an unacceptable corporate pathology at BHP Billiton. The Pilbara workers are angry that safety seems to be taking second place to productivity increases. Contract workers are typically under extra pressure to meet ever-increasing production targets," Mr Shorten said.

"The Government's inquiry should have the power to initiate prosecutions over any legal breaches in relation to the recent deaths and injuries and to provide protection for company whistleblowers regarding safety issues."

Mr Shorten has written to WA Premier Geoff Gallop proposing that the inquiry's terms of reference also include:

- establishing a safety ombudsman or commissioner - at least on a temporary basis - to oversee occupational health and safety in the WA mining industry;

- Government registration of mining contractors, requiring uniform safety induction processes and approved Work Plans before work commences; and

- ensuring counselling of families is available not only in remote areas but also for wives and children living thousands of kilometres away, for example in the case of fly-in/fly-out operations.

For further information

Contact:	Jeremy Vermeesch
Union:	The Australian Workers' Union
Phone:	03 8327 0888
Fax:	03 8327 0899
Email:	jeremy.vermeesch@awu.net.au
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au

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