A stevedoring code of practice for Australian ports is underway
April 20, 2012
A stevedoring code of practice for Australian ports is underway.
The Maritime Union of Australian (MUA) announced yesterday the Safe Work Australia (SWA) Temporary Advisory Group (TAG) had recently begun developing a code of practice for stevedores.
MUA Assistant National Secretary Warren Smith says the code will expand on the existing guidance material.
“Once the code is in effect, many safety standards that the union has campaigned for will be given significant regulatory force,” Smith says.
Smith says a national meeting of stevedoring health and safety representatives will be held next month as part of the code consultation process.
“The purpose of the meeting is to review our existing guidance material and identify key topics for inclusion in the new code,” Smith says.
“More than anything else, we want to raise awareness and get buy-on from
health and safety representatives on the ground.”
“We are writing to all major stevedoring employers to seek release representatives from worksites to attend.”