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Bad Laws Cost Lives

Since the ABCC and Building and Construction Industry laws came in during 2005, there has been a massive increase in deaths and serious injuries in our industry.

The number of deaths has gone up:
from 3.14 per 100,000 workers in 2004 – before the ABCC started –
to 4.8 per 100,000 workers in 2007 and 4.27 in 2008.

The construction laws and ABCC have taken us back to the terrible situation of, on average, one construction being killed on the job every week.

Limits on right of entry for union organizers have made safety worse.

 Union sites are safe sites

 Research shows again and again, when there is a strong union presence on construction sites, with active union members, safety is better.  The number of deaths and injuries decrease and workers’ entitlements are not ripped off.

The ABCC and  special construction laws make it harder for construction workers to stand up for safety on site. 

We work to live, not to get killed. Every worker has the right to come home safely.

Demand the end to the ABCC and construction laws.

Demand better national OH&S rules – not second rate safety – that get workers killed and injured.

Watch the video. Leave a message for a mate injured or killed at work.

Click on the buttons on left for both.

Facts

  • The number of deaths have gone up since 2005: from 3.14 per 100,000 workers in 2004 – before the ABCC started – to 4.8 per 100,000 workers in 2007 and 4.27 in 2008.
  • Threats of fines, interrogations by the ABCC and imprisonment make it harder for construction workers to take a stand over poor safety.
  • Construction workers have to be able to prove that ‘there was an imminent risk to their health and safety’ to avoid fines for stopping work over safety matters.
  • The ABCC has a track record of pursuing workers and Occupational Health and Safety Authorities for court investigations where workers take action to defend their safety.
  • The ABCC has never taken an employer to court over breaches of Occupational Health and Safety laws.
  • South Australian rigger Ark Tribe was tried and won last November against charges brought by the ABCC relating to the investigation of a safety matter on a construction site.
  • Research has shown that where there is a strong union presence at construction workplaces, there are fewer serious injuries and deaths.
  • Construction remains one of Australia’s top four most dangerous industries, accounting for 24% - the highest number - of work-related fatalities in 2008, according to the latest available Australian Safety & Compensation Commission report.
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Tell a Mate

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Your Messages

  • Colleen's Message - submitted Friday 22 July 2011

    Kiaora. My cousin was killed on-site Karratha last Wednesday. This incident I consider to be manslaughter because in this day and age these sorts of incidents should not happen. No wife and mother should ever have to suffer the utter heartbreak this tragic, stupid, totally avoidable loss of life, inflicts on all of those left behind!!!!
    Read the full article

  • How can this keep happening?

    Susan's Message - submitted Monday 19 July 2010

    In memory of Brian Murphy

    With the recent news of yet another death, this one at the Desal Plant, we are forced yet again to relive the heartache of that day when we were told that Brian had been killed at work, similarly crushed by a load of steel falling from a truck.
    After 3 years it has not gotten any easier to live without him and every death that has occurred since has been like another knife through our hearts. How can this keep happening?
    Worst of all was having to face the penalties that were handed down to the company where Brian's accident occurred. After admitting fault the SAIRC fined Normetals $52,000 for failing their duty of care in relation to Brian's death. At the same time the media were reporting a story of a company that was ordered to pay $250,000 to a worker for a sexual harrassment suit. It absolutely boggles the mind and darkens the heart to know that Brian's life meant so little to those he worked hard for and to our Government.
    We will not let him or his death and the deaths of other workers be forgotten.
    RIP to all those who have lost their lives working hard for their families.

    Read the full article

  • Ceilings were always a dangerous place to work

    John's Message - submitted Saturday 12 June 2010

    As someone who has worked most of my life in the building industry I also find it interesting that the Liberals believe that Rudd could have prevented what happened in the insulation program or the School building industry. Since the 1960s when I first stated working, ceilings were always a dangerous place to work, and the building industry has always been one of the more dangerous industries to work in. It is no different to many other industries, in that you find a small proportion who do the wrong thing, have poor skills and some are only in it to rip people off. Rudd would have had to be in every ceiling on every building site to try to prevent the abuses happening.

    Read the full article

Leave a message

To commemorate International Workers' Memorial Day, the CFMEU is putting together a website tribute wall with messages for mates who have been seriously injured or killed on construction jobs.

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Or phone the CFMEU National Publicity Officer
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Videos for "Bad Laws Cost Lives"

Bad Laws Cost Lives - Workers Day of Mourning April 28 2010

Too many Australian workers construction workers have experienced mates being killed or seriously injured at work. The CFMEU has made this video to share members' stories.Ultimately, it is bad laws that cost lives. Bad laws stop experienced union organisers visiting sites to review safety. Bad laws mean a worker like Ark Tribe spent 18 months with a threat of imprisonment over his head, for refusing to dob in mates over a safety meeting. Every worker has a right to come home safely. Hear more of these stories on this website home page. Leave a message for a lost mate on this campaign page.

Created on 27/04/2010

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