Strict Australian work, health and safety practices have failed to stop dozens of deaths on the job, an industry body has revealed.
The Gladstone Engineering Alliance (GEA) confirmed the number of people who died on the job so far this year continues to rise.
“Despite stringent safety procedures across Australian worksites, as of 21 March, 30 Australian workers have been killed at work in 2019,” said GEA, which regularly holds industry updates, in a written statement.
This is why the alliance is promoting the Safer Together hub, which has already attracted 130 member companies from the oil and gas exploration and production sector in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
“As Safer Together use similar technologies with common hazards and risks the not-for-profit organisation believe that in terms of safety industry must be seen as one industry and not separate companies,” GEA chief executive officer Julie Gelder said. “Active participation by all companies working in the industry will be key to building a safer work environment.”
The Safer Together team will be at the Gladstone Supply Chain Expo in the Gladstone Entertainment and Convention Centre on April 10, from 8am to 2pm.
The expo is will also showcase more than 70 exhibitors, highlighting the services and capabilities of the highly skilled supply chain in the industrial, resource and construction sectors.
“The GEA Supply Chain Expo is about giving local suppliers the opportunity to showcase their high level of skills and capacities gained from working within these industries for many years,” GEA communications and events coordinator Kieran Moran said. “These suppliers are ready and waiting to deliver world-class service to not just major projects but down to residential building renovation projects as well and we want to make sure that everyone knows about the services and capabilities of our local businesses.”
Special guests from around the state include project investors and proponents, government representatives, industry associations, Tier 1 contractors and smaller firms.
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) will launch its 2018 Local Content Report, which summarises the industry’s progress in implementing the Code of Practice for Local Content across the state.
“The QRC Local Content Report will include best practice case studies and the sector’s economic contribution to central Queensland which will be delivered by QRC executive Ian Macfarlane,” Moran said. “I encourage Gladstone’s major industry heads and their procurement and maintenance teams to come along and not only learn about their performance surround their support of local suppliers but to engage with exhibition stall holders as well and find out about their capabilities and services.”
Meanwhile, GEA’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) traineeship program has attracted more than 450 applications for the 36 positions available.
“Thirty-six trainees started the SQW traineeship program … which is the fifth program GEA has facilitated and overall we have approximately an 88 per cent success rate where trainees have moved into employment,” Gelder said. “What this means is the GEA have not only placed more than 150 trainees into work over the past three years, but have also significantly assisted local businesses with finding employees.”
Traineeships are provided in partnership with the Queensland Government’s SQW Project, which helps people who are unemployed find work through re-skilling for a new job.
“Through programs like the SQW program and the continuous professional development that’s offered, GEA are always working towards our vision of building a highly skilled and capable workforce in central Queensland,” Gelder said.
Employers of eligible employees can be paid between $10,000 and $20,000 through the Queensland Government’s Back to Work initiative.
For more information please contact Megan Corrie by phoning 07 4972 9060.
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