‘Sacked’ for speaking out about safety

20/May/2009
By Fleur Mason

A PETROL tanker driver who is also a safety officer claims he was sacked from

his job on Monday because he dared to speak out about unsafe work practices.
Mick Connolly, from South Lake, spent today sitting on the side of a road waving a placard emblazoned with ‘sacked for speaking out about safety’ outside the fuel company that sacked him.

He said “enough was enough” after spending 12 months working for Fuel Distributors, where as the occupational work and safety officer he complained continuously about safety issues.

Mr Connolly reported unsafe work practices to WorkSafe a fortnight ago and was says he was sacked on Monday.

He said the company he worked for was not connected to the incident last

week when a petrol tanker exploded at a service station in Maddington, l

eaving a damage bill of about $2 million.

However, he said the company he worked for did the same work.
“It was lucky no-one was hurt,” Mr Connolly said. “I didn’t know the guy at

all and I don’t know what caused the incident. “But we all have a duty of care

to ourselves and to one another to provide a safe environment and have safe

procedures.”

Mr Connolly said WorkSafe called the manager of Fuel Distributors last

Thursday to make an appointment to visit the Kwinana business to investigate

the allegations about unsafe work practices.

He suggested Monday but was told Tuesday was a better day.
However, Mr Connolly was sacked “on the spot” on Monday.
He had complained about drains that were not functioning properly at some

services stations which had fuel sitting in them. He said it would only take a

cigarette or static ignition to ignite the fuel vapour.“This was just one issue

that I raised and that drivers were climbing on unsafe structures in the bush,”

Mr Connolly said.

Mr Connolly said he would sit on the side of Kwinana Beach Road with his

placard for as long as it took to get his job back and for the company to comply

with safety regulations.“I’m disappointed they sacked me and it has put

financial pressure on myself and my wife,” he said.“Do I regret what I’ve done?

No, it is important to stand up for the workers.”

A Fuel Distributors spokesperson said the company would not comment.

According to the Transport Workers Union, WorkSafe issued the company

with several safety notices yesterday.The union has lodged unfair and

unlawful dismissal applications on Mr Connolly’s behalf.

WCV's: This has also happened in Victoria. Murray Goulburn Co-Op,

Leongatha Branch was guilty of acting the same way.

They also sack their health and safety officers when they alert them

to a problem. Im guessing it saves them from actually fixing it ?

Rf: Perth Now