24 April 2008
Torres Strait nurse-security up-date
Historic OH&S breach notice served on Qld Health
Nurses across Queensland will do a security audit of their workplaces on Monday
Today’s announcement that Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has issued a notice of breach under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 to Queensland Health, following investigations into the alleged rape of a nurse at Mabuiag Island Health Clinic in the Torres Strait, is a significant step forward for workplace health and safety in Queensland, the Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) said today.
Today’s announcement by Queensland Department of Employment and Industrial Relations director-general, Peter Henneken, follows weeks of industrial and community outrage over the issue. At one stage nurses withdrew from certain Torres Strait islands until a range of security problems at their clinics and accommodation were fixed. The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission also took a keen interest in resolving the matter.
QNU assistant secretary, Beth Mohle, said this is one of the first such notices issued to a public sector agency under the new occupational health and safety (OH&S) Enforceable Undertaking regime introduced by State Cabinet in September 2007.
“Prior to this occupational health and safety laws were hard to enforce in the public sector because the crown could not prosecute itself. The new Enforceable Undertaking regime closes that loophole, by giving Workplace Health and Safety Queensland the power to issue enforceable notices like this one.
“The new regime was introduced after years of lobbying by union officials and members and today’s decision will restore the faith of most nurses and other public sector workers in the OH&S system. It shows that even a body as large as Queensland Health can now be forced to comply with the OH&S laws.
“Queensland Health should accept the decision and immediately appoint a senior officer who has the Statewide authority to ensure compliance across Queensland Health districts with the directives of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.
“Nurses also welcome the decision to review the policies and procedures developed by Queensland Health regarding security arrangements for remote accommodation and how these are being implemented. Security for nurses and other public sector workers in remote areas has been a serious problem for many years and the implementation of measures to address it has been very poor.
“Finally, the issuing of an improvement notice requiring Queensland Health to implement and monitor appropriate security systems across Queensland, to ensure these are maintained to a level that ensures worker safety, is another significant decision made possible by the new OH&S Enforceable Undertaking regime.
“To assist this process QNU members across the State will conduct their own security audits of their workplaces or work areas this Monday (28 April) – the International Day of Mourning for people injured or killed at work. They will report their findings to their employer. Any very serious issues will also be referred to QNU officials for immediate action,” Ms Mohle said.
10 April 2008
The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) is currently mediating between the QNU and Queensland Health (QH) over safety and security concerns for nurses working in the Torres Strait. Since the alleged rape of a nurse on Mabuiag Island, the QNU has called for safety and security upgrades throughout the region. The matter has become a pivotal workplace health and safety issue for nurses working in remote areas.
The first hearing before the QIRC was held in Brisbane on Saturday 29 March. Both QH and the QNU attended but failed to resolve differences regarding the dispute. QIRC Deputy President Bloomfield presided over the three and a half hour hearing.
The matter was reconvened on Thursday Island on Wednesday 2 April. Nurses who left their posts for safety and security reasons attended the hearing, while others travelled from outer islands to attend. QNU Assistant Secretary Beth Mohle, Professional Officer Kym Barry and Cairns Organiser Kathy Struber attended the hearing. They met with local members on Monday 31 March to brief them on the dispute’s progress and prepare for the hearing.
The outcome of the hearing was that nurses would return to work subject to two people (comprising a mix of nurses and Health Care Workers) attending all call out/emergency situations. This is an interim solution and will be trialed and closely monitored and reviewed after three weeks. The medium to long term solution that members are seeking is the establishment of appropriately trained and supported community based personnel who will accompany nurses/Health care Workers to all call outs/emergencies. QH has commenced consultations with various communities on this initiative.
The QNU raised a significant number of other related matters which require attention following the resolution of the critical health and safety concerns. These include:
» establishing a Nursing Consultative Forum to ensure nurses can raise issues and have them addressed through the appropriate channels. The QNU wants to ensure that such a mechanism is effective and has requested that QH enable relevant management be included in its development and operation;
» establishing clear and consistently applied accountability and reporting mechanisms within QH for health and safety concerns so that these can be addressed promptly. It is essential that single point accountability is established for health and safety matters within QH;
» clarifying operational and professional reporting relationships and accountabilities;
» determinating role clarity, boundaries and accountabilities for all staff. This includes examination of issues such as appropriate scope of practice, performance reviews and accountability for quality of care and incident reporting;
» improving communications within the District;
» improving RN coverage on islands where there are no nurses currently posted;
» addressing the shortage of appropriately trained and supported Health Care Workers.
As each island has its own particular issues, problems should be addressed on an island-by-island basis, with reference to the appropriateness and sustainability of any solutions offered.
QH has also undertaken to address the safety and security concerns identified at Thursday Island Hospital accommodation during the current work being done by QBuild on the outer island accommodation.
A further report back before DP Bloomfield is to be held on Thursday Island on 29 April 2008. Until this time regular teleconferences have been scheduled between QNU and its members and QNU and QH to ensure that appropriate progress is being made in resolving the immediate and then medium to long term issues.
The level of community and membership support for nurses involved in this dispute has been very significant and they appreciate this greatly. QNU members, Branches and members of the community can send messages of support to QNU members involved in this dispute through the Message of Support form at the top of the page.
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