Centrelink worker poisoned

Date: 22 October 2008

A worker in Centrelink's Tweed Call Centre has been diagnosed with poisoning following the lifting of the kitchen floor on the premises

There are around 280 staff in the Call Centre and several have become sick since a substance called BP Toluene was used in the lifting of the floor.

"On Friday 3 October, Centrelink lifted the flooring of the kitchen area and a number of employees reported feeling ill from the fumes and needing to remove themselves from the environment," says Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) Regional Director Bill Marklew.

"As a result, Centrelink started to evacuate staff from 8am and then temporarily closed the Call Centre from 12pm. But they reopened it at 3pm, saying it was safe and had been tested. Any staff who wanted to leave or go to the doctor after that point were required to take personal leave.

"CPSU believes this was a very premature move as employees are continuing to report a bad smell from the kitchen. One employee has been told by her doctor that she has been poisoned by the fumes and several staff members have put in Comcare claims.

"This incident demonstrates the inadequacies of Centrelink's approach to health and safety risks in the workplace. CPSU is calling for alternative accommodation for staff to be found immediately until the problem is fully resolved and for a Comcare investigation into why this happened in the first place. We also want Centrelink to fast track the claims made by employees for compensation and to re-credit any leave taken by employees due to their illness," said Mr Marklew.

One staff member reported suffering from "a dull headache, dizziness, coughing, eyes watering and tingling of hands" from the fumes. Later that night at home she became violently ill. "I'm struggling to accept our organisation cares about my health and safety," said the CPSU member.

For further information

Contact:	Bill Marklew
Union:	CPSU
Contact Mobile:	0417 703 955
WWW:	http://www.cpsu.org.au/

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