In July 2006, Worksafe established the $10 million dollar, Return to work
fund.
Through the RTW Fund, funding was allocated to eligible employers and
worksafe victoria have allocated it towards 13 projects in which, they
must establish innovative projects for earlier RTW's
The Murray Goulburn initiative was an 18 month project that was
supposed to provide more support and enable a earlier return to work.
This program was also targeted at training programs for their Health
and Safety Representatives.
Now, I find this extremely interesting, as I happen to know one of their
former Health and Safety Representatives, who was bullied in the
workplace to such an extent he was so stressed, that he took time off.
During his time off he received no support from Murray Goulburn
regarding his workplace injury, actually they denied his workcover claim
outright and he was also sacked while on workcover, even though he had
been told he was well enough to return to work, so where was his support?
He got none, instead for his years of loyal service, he lost his job and was
refused a RTW (even though the ACA protects him from this), he lost a
promotion he deserved and worked hard for and then, they refused to
allow him to make a claim for workcover payments, so don't try and
tell me that this company is providing their injured employees support
of any kind because I know first hand, that they don't.
Then to my total amazement, Worksafe Victoria gave Murray Goulburn
a grant to improve their RTW's but worksafe did not enforce the breaches
committed by this company regarding the ACA and this employees right
to be RTW ?
It makes no sense at all! Either you enforce the legislation or you dont,
and for Worksafe Victoria it seems that they dont?
Recently, the following story turned up in "The Star Newspaper "and from
it, it seems that Murray Goulburn were not compliant in providing a safe
workplace again and apparently this accident happened due to a hose
maintenance issue and has put hundreds of people at risk!
Going by the story posted above Murray Goulburn has not improved
their workplace safety at all!
When will worksafe Victoria make this employer compliant or will they
just give them another grant from the 10 million dollar RTW Fund and
allow them to continue to beat up their injured workers, once again!!!!
Ref: The Star Newspaper. March 3rd 2009
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