CFMEU - The Union for Australian Construction Workers

...y, climate change will increase the detrioration in concrete and steel, posing greater risks to the safety, serviceability and durability of our infrastructure.Other countries have already moved ahead... ...equire some training, but "It's the best way to go," those workers are telling the CFMEU. See Photo Galleries: Our Green Star JobsBesides Green Star-rated new buildings, retrofitting existing building... ...ns from the power sector for 2010 are already locked in. 78% of New York city's greenhouse gas emissions comes from buildings, mostly from the use of electricity and natural gas - NY Times. The energy used in constructing, occupying and operating buildings was responsible for half the UK's greenhouse gas emissions in 2007 - Sir John Harman Chair, Environment Agency. The Empire State retrofit result... ... has broken the nexus between strong economic growth, strong trade growth and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. We [Australia] have grown our economy but are no. 6 of the worst performing greenhouse gas emitters per capita behind Bahrain, Brunei & Qatar.” The Age April 16, 2011 In the Press. ...

... Description:  Alimak Hek A.B Sweden has issued a Safety Alert after major concerns regarding the use of Alimak Scando 650 Hoists. Type:  Reports File upload:  ...

... Description:  Safety warning for crane operators Type:  Reports File upload:  tower-crane-access-alertfinal.pdf ...

...as an effective delegate. “Delegates are the union’s key strength on construction job sites as they alert the union to problems with issues such as payments and safety. “This sometimes puts them at odds with their employer and they can risk retaliation from the emplo... ...ions and their delegates play in this industry,” he says. Whitney, who was chairman of St Hillier’s safety committee, was retrenched along with three colleagues recently despite being one of the compa...

...Safety is Union BusinessAustralian construction has become safer because workers have stood up for their right to work to live.Overseas research confirms that workplaces with strong union membership a... ...th strong union membership are safer. It's logical. Workers who are prepared to have a go, who form Safety Committees and refuse to accept unsafe working conditions, improve the industry for everyone.  The struggle against excessive hours, employers cutting costs and shoddy safety continues every day.CFMEU NSW Branches have a strong network of elected Safety Delegates who deal with day-to-day safety issues on sites. They are supported by Safety Organisers, who are always on hand with information and for incidents or problems.The CFMEU also works with employers and governments to develop better safety practices for our industry.All CFMEU NSW Training Centres run courses on different aspects of construction safety - from required induction-level safety tickets, up to a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.The CFMEU places a high priority on occupational health & safety. Unfortunately, many employers put profits before the safety of workers and the end result is workplace injuries and fatalities. On average one building worker is killed on a building site across Australia each week. Most fatalities occur on non-union sites. On these sites the workers generally do not have union delegates and elected worker safety representatives. The best way to improve workplace safety is to ensure all workers are union members. A strong union presence means workers have more rights and confidence to stand up. You also need to elect union delegates & worker safety representatives who are committed to the rank & file. These delegates need to be trained by the union to ensure they understand their rights and are better equipped. The Union’s Safety Officers have decades of industry experience and expertise. Our Safety Officers co-ordinate the occupational health & safety work of the union and assists organisers who visit sites and audit safety. All union organisers receive safety training. When required they provide the organisers and workplace delegates with support in these audits. One of their core responsibilities is to co-ordinate the investigation of serious accidents and fatalities. If it was not for the hard work of the CFMEU checking sites and organising stoppage of unsafe work, many more building workers would be injured, maimed or killed. If you have a safety problem on your site contact our Counter Organiser at the union office for advice and a...