Published: 21 Feb 2014
The Maritime Union of Australia has again raised concerns about site safety after a worker was seriously injured at the Patrick’s terminal in Fremantle this morning.
It’s believed the man, in his fifties, sustained chest injuries when he was struck by a container around 9:30am this morning at the Patrick’s container terminal. He has been taken to hospital.
Other workers at the terminal have stopped work and will only return once their safety concerns have been met.
MUA State Secretary Christy Cain said the accident follows a Fair Work Commission decision which ordered workers at the terminal to increase their work rate.
“We have serious concerns about this industry putting profits before safety,” he said.
“Our members do some very dangerous jobs. Waterside workers are 14 times more likely to be killed at work than the average worker, so their safety needs to be the main priority.
Mr Cain said this latest accident highlighted the need for the industry to introduce a National Stevedoring Code of Practice.
“We have worked with employers for more than two years to develop a safety code for this dangerous industry,” he said.
“But Patrick has done everything possible to block, delay and water down the code of practice.
“It’s time they got serious and helped us to stop this carnage.”
Mr Cain said the MUA would offer whatever assistance it could to the injured worker and his family.
