THE Transport Workers’ Union has today called on the state government to amend WorkCover legislation in light of the latest truck accident on the notorious Range section of the Warrego Highway.
Yesterday a Freightliner transporting grain lost its trailer on the Range section of the Warrego Highway heading from Toowoomba to Brisbane.
Grain was spread across two lanes for 400m, forcing one lane to be closed from 3.40pm until 8pm.
“Luckily the driver walked away uninjured — but every truck accident is unacceptable,” TWU secretary Peter Biagini said.
“If an accident of the magnitude of yesterday’s crash had affected a worker on a building site, or in a mine, or on a farm, or in an office, WorkCover would be all over it.
“WorkCover needs to investigate the crash and accept that truck accidents are actually workplace accidents.
“This is an OH&S issue and needs to be treated as such.”
Mr Biagini said the chain of responsibility needed to be enforced at every level to ensure these types of accidents were prevented in the future.
“It is clear the government must legislate to fix this anomaly in our OH&S system,” he said.
“Safety on our roads will only improve if the WorkCover investigates every incident involving professional drivers.
“Our members and the travelling public deserve better.”
He said with the Toowoomba Regional TWU office set to open this Friday, newly-appointed organiser Brendan Bogle would be on the ground to defend the drivers’ and community’s interests.
Provided By: The Daily News
No comments:
Post a Comment