Postal
After eight months, Comcare says Post needed to consult better
(3 April, 2009): On 1 April, Comcare released its much anticipated report into safety concerns regarding the Mercedes Benz Sprinter SPB vans.
It was no April Fools joke either: Comcare issued an Improvement Notice on Australia Post giving it 60 days to comply with the notice.
The crux of the Improvement Notice relates to the consultation process undertaken by Australia Post in relation to the new vans and the one size fits all solution imposed on all drivers irrespective of the particular hazards they face in the performance of their duties.
While Comcare hasn’t said that Australia Post must put windows into the new vans:
- it has quite clearly said that Post must consult more locally and individually and address any issues that may arise from this process.
In essence, what this means is that Australia Post is now required to consult with employees and/or their representatives on hazard identification and measures to eliminate/control the hazards identified.
So, for example, measures to eliminate/control a lack of peripheral visibility may include the moving of street post boxes, redesigning a driver’s route or retrofitting vans with side windows etc – it all comes down to what is reasonably practicable to do to remove the hazard.
A copy of the Improvement Notice must be distributed and placed in every Australia Post transport hub around the country.
OHS committees in all transport hubs should request a copy of the Comcare report so that they may consider its implications for their workplaces.
It has taken eight months of investigation by Comcare since the HSR at Mt Waverly Transport Hub first issued a PIN on the vans to arrive at this point.
Hopefully, Australia Post will now take immediate action to implement the report’s findings and not seek to delay same by seeking to appeal the decision.