THE ACTU says the Home Insulation Program should be halted until it can be demonstrated that tighter safety and training standards are in place to properly protect workers.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) claims the recent deaths of workers installing home insulation are unacceptable. The union has raised several concerns to the Federal Government.
ACTU president Sharan Burrow says it called for a halt to the program in November 2009 after three fatalities but withdrew its call following assurances that new procedures would protect workers.
“From the outset, unions have called for improved safety standards, better training to ensure workers are able to identify risks such as faulty wiring, and a bigger role for qualified tradespeople such as electricians to oversee the work,” Burrow said.
“Any recently installed insulation that does not meet acceptable standards of quality, workmanship or safety to the public needs to be re-examined.”
According to the ACTU, the Home Insulation Program is due to run for another two years, funding the insulation of more than two million homes.
“Unions recognise that this and other Federal Government stimulus and infrastructure investment programs are important to save jobs and help the economy recover from the Global Financial Crisis.
“But unions have said from the outset that businesses that get stimulus funding from the Government must respect the rights of their workers, provide adequate training and ensure a safe workplace.”
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