TWU CALLS FOR PROSECUTION OF WASTE COMPANY CLEANAWAY AFTER WORKER LEFT WITH PERMANENT VISION LOSS

The TWU has called on national workplace health and safety regulator Comcare to prosecute Cleanaway after a worker has been left with permanent vision loss from toxic chemical exposure, with the company failing to notify the incident, one of its obligations under safety law.

The woman, who has seven children and now grapples with her life-altering injury, continued her shift following the initial chemical exposure, after she was unable to get in touch with the company for safety advice. She was subsequently hospitalised for two weeks before she was told she would have permanent vision loss.

When the TWU attempted to conduct safety inspections several weeks after the incident, Cleanaway refused entry, until Comcare forced the company to allow the visits. Comcare then found that Cleanaway had neither notified the incident – required under WHS legislation – nor made any changes to prevent it happening to other workers.

The TWU has now called on Comcare to investigate Cleanaway for this and a litany of other significant safety issues, and to prosecute the company over the incident.

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:

“It is utterly devastating that Cleanaway’s appalling and callous attitude towards its workforce has now resulted in a worker’s permanent vision loss—a life-altering injury that she and her family are now having to grapple with.

“This is not just an isolated incident. 5 deaths in 2 years and 8 since 2022 is an absolute safety catastrophe and an indication of the complete lack of regard Cleanaway has for its workers’ safety.

“As if all this wasn’t bad enough, CEO Mark Schubert walked away with over $4 million for this string of deaths and horrific injuries last year even after his pay was docked for Cleanaway’s unconscionable conditions.

“What is clear is that significant action must be taken at Cleanaway. We are calling on Comcare to prosecute to the fullest extent following this safety investigation, because we cannot see any more workers killed or maimed just doing their job.”

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said:

“This is a deeply troubling case with heartbreaking consequences for the worker and her loved ones. No worker should suffer a catastrophic injury while their employer allegedly fails to report it, fails to learn from it, and fails to protect others.

“Working people should have confidence that our laws will be enforced by regulators like ComCare if companies like Cleanway are found to violate workplace safety laws. There must be full accountability to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future. It’s important to send a clear message to employers that it’s never okay to gamble with workers’ lives.”

AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow said:

“Let’s call this what it is: sheer contempt for worker safety. The fact that Cleanaway didn’t even report the incident, let alone fix the danger, is telling and damning.

“There is something rotten about a system where a chief executive can take home more than $4 million when workers under his watch are being killed and maimed. Comcare needs to throw the book at this company. It has the power to prosecute and it should use every bit of it.”

AMWU National Secretary Steve Murphy said: 

“Safety is a fundamental right for every worker, who deserves to return home to their loved ones in the exact same state they left—entirely free from injury and illness. Every employer carries an absolute responsibility to guarantee this protection, and Cleanaway has completely failed its workforce and must be held to account.”

Notes on Cleanaway:

–              5 workers have been killed at Cleanaway in the last 2 years, and 8 since 2022 – the TWU recently conducted vigils for these workers on Workers’ Memorial Day

–              Despite this, CEO Mark Schubert took home a whopping $4.2 million last financial year, even after his annual bonus was docked by 30% over worker deaths and an increase in on site injuries

–              At Cleanaway’s AGM last year, 40% voted against executive pay over “deteriorating safety performance and lack of appropriate accountability.”

–              Cleanaway was recently fined $1.1 million, the largest ever employer penalty under federal WHS laws, for workplace failures that led to a double fatal crash in Adelaide in 2014

–              Recent TWU safety inspections found extensive and deadly risks at Cleanaway, including broken blood samples, used syringes left on top of medical bins, blocked fire exits, wing mirrors sticky-taped to vehicles, and out of date PPE