Category: News

Industry news and insights

Drug and Alcohol Screening – Victoria

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Drug & Alcahol

On 6 February 2014 the Victorian Premier, Denis Napthine, announced the intention to

“…require construction companies to implement comprehensive drug and alcohol screening measures to ensure the safety of workers to be eligible to tender for Victorian Government construction contracts.”

The Coalition Government in Victoria will introduce amendments to the Implementation Guidelines to the Victorian Code of Practice for the Building and Construction Industry, and the revised guidelines are expected to be in place by mid-2014.

“Reports of illicit drug use and distribution on Victorian construction sites are widespread,” said Victorian Premier Denis Napthine.

The CFMEU’s Victorian Secretary John Setka has stated that

“There is no epidemic of drug taking on construction sites…. Our Health and Safety representatives who look out for workers’ health and safety are not reporting a problem.”

CFMEU occupational health and safety manager, Gerry Ayers, also said that there is no evidence of accidents on building sites due to rampant drug use

Master Builders Association of Victoria CEO, Radley de Silva, welcomed the announcement and said anyone interested in the safety of construction workers should back the policy.

“Ordinary drivers on our roads are randomly drug tested, so why those working on dangerous construction sites among heavy machinery shouldn’t also be tested?” de Silva said.

“Drug testing has already happened on the Thiess M80 Ring Road project, despite the objections of the CFMEU and is occurring in the civil construction, aviation and transport industries to name only a few.

“The construction industry is not being singled out, it is simply following what is justifiably already the norm in many other high risk industries.” said De Silva.

The on-site screening for drugs and alcohol in the construction Industry has been a hot topic for government, employers and unions in recent years.

In light of the most recent statements by the Victorian Premier the CFMEU secretary and the Master Builders CEO the ‘political football’ surrounding the topic looks set to continue past the revised guideline date of mid 2014.

Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

Magazine Articles

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Sustainability

Custodian Safety Services have been invited to submit an article on Occupational Health and Safety and how it is being adopted and viewed by businesses and employees in the Australian waste and recycling industry for the popular bi monthly free Sustainability Matters magazine.

Cathal Uniacke, Principle Consultant at Custodian Safety Services and writer of the magazine article stated; “The Australian Waste and Recycling industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years and this growth looks set to continue, however, OHS standards surrounding the day to day operations of businesses in the industry have a long way to go to catch up to its cousin the construction industry. I wanted to write a hard hitting and brutally honest article in the hope some businesses and their employees in the industry will realise they have to pull up their socks and address the management and attitude towards OHS across the board”

The Article will appear in the February/March edition of the magazine.

Irish Scene

Custodian Safety Services have been asked by Fred Rae, the editor of the popular Western Australian Irish Scene magazine, to take part in an interview on how our services can benefit businesses in Western Australia.

“Being a proud Irish man, that has always taken an extra little bit of satisfaction in assisting fellow Irish expats who also emigrated to Australia and took the initiative of setting up a business in the hope of creating their own crock of gold, I jumped at the chance to offer up some free Occupational Health and Safety advice and information for businesses in Western Australia’s Irish Scene magazine.” Said Cathal Uniacke, Principal Consultant at Custodian Safety Services.

The interview will appear in the March/April edition of the magazine.

 Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo

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Expo

On the 19th & 20th of November 2013 Custodian Safety Services exhibited at the Australasian Waste & recycling expo in the Melbourne Convention Centre.

“We felt that with the rapid growth increase in the waste and recycling Industry experienced in Australia over the past couple of years and the prediction of that growth trend to continue there is a definite need to ensure businesses centred around this industry have access to relevant and up to date Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Advice that will assist their business in the management of their OHS. This year we really focused on bringing information on the responsibilities and obligations business owners and managers have under state laws and regulations to as many businesses as possible” said Cathal Uniacke, Principle Consultant at Custodian Safety Services.

To date, the exhibition has been a huge success for Custodian Safety Services as the business has picked up several new clients with regards to the provision of OHS services and ongoing OHS support and is currently in negotiations with several others.

Custodian Safety Services look forward to providing OHS related services and support to our new and existing clients in the years ahead and are proud to be a business in a position to make a positive difference to businesses and employees involved in the waste and recycling industry.

ohs melbourne, cathal uniacke

At their Post! Hannah Vanderheide and Cathal Uniacke, Custodian Safety Services exhibiting at the recent Australian Waste & Recycling Expo at the Melbourne Convention Centre.

Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

Irish Chamber of Commerce