Page 2634 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 October 1992
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and saying, "Somebody slipped over. Ha, ha, ha. That is an accident. Ha, ha, ha". Accidents that have not been reported by employers have resulted in amputations. The first the OH and S compliance people were aware of some accidents was when the insurance companies actually wrote to them. The employers failed to notify the accidents, as they are required to do. That is the type of non-compliance there is.
Mr De Domenico: How many times has that happened?
MR LAMONT: Twice in 12 months where amputations have occurred, Mr De Domenico. That is nothing to laugh at, nothing to sneer at, as you were doing yesterday. It is something of great concern to this Government and should be of great concern to every employer.
I come back to training. Some of the people who have mouthpieces opposite have said that they do not want trade unions to be involved in the training that is provided. The legislation does not require that. If there is not an appropriate union, then an appropriate union is not involved in the process. It is as simple as that. The people opposite also say, "But what it boils down to is that the Trades and Labour Council has a training cell and they will get to know what employers are up to, because when employers want training they will send their employees off to the Trades and Labour Council occupational health and safety training centre". But there are others. That is but one organisation authorised by the OH and S Council.
Mr Kaine: What are the others?
MR LAMONT: The National Safety Council. I understand that applications either have already been submitted or are about to be submitted by other organisations that wish to become recognised trainers. I am quite proud of the fact that after I left the Transport Workers Union in July 1991 I spent five months helping to establish the occupational health and safety training centre of the Trades and Labour Council. May I place on record that that body is regarded throughout Australia as one of the most pre-eminent occupational health and safety training centres in Australia.
Mrs Carnell: Because you set it up?
MR LAMONT: No, not because I set it up, Mrs Carnell; but because of the level of expertise which has been developed by the employees of that organisation. They have developed such expertise that employer organisations are now seeking to become involved in the information systems that they have devised. Employers singularly have also sought to use the resources of that training centre to inform their members and their managers of their obligations and, indeed, the necessity for any proper business to take care of its employees.
I have absolutely no difficulty in placing that on the public record, Mr Deputy Speaker, and there should be absolutely no concern by any employer in Canberra over the style and type of training provided by the Trades and Labour Council occupational health and safety training centre or, indeed, by the National Safety Council. I have also participated with one of the trainers in the National Safety Council's training program. The back-up facilities provided by that organisation are not as comprehensive; nevertheless, its training program has been authorised by the body established and recognised as the appropriate body to approve such courses.
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