Visy Paper Mill, based in Tumut, NSW is under fire again regarding concerns for employee safety after a number of incidents and near misses.
The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) says Safe Work NSW must step in and carefully scrutinise the work practise at the Visy paper mill before ‘someone is killed or seriously injured’.
According to the CFMEU, a string of incidents including collapses of internal roofing and a number of electrical shocks experienced by employees are the primary reasons behind concerns.
The union also alleges other employees have suffered broken bones and minor injuries while performing tasks at the Southern NSW-based mill.
CFMEU pulp and paper district secretary Alex Millar says the union has had fears about the safety of workers at the Visy Tumut paper mill for some time.
The CFMEU has long held concerns about the safety performance at the Visy Pty Ltd Tumut paper mill," he says.
"We wrote to the owner, Anthony Pratt, in 2010 seeking an urgent meeting to discuss those concerns, and the request was refused by Mr Pratt's office.”
An apprentice working at the Tumut paper mill had a near-fatal electrical shock last month, and SafeWork NSW is looking into whether Visy is ignoring basic OHS guidelines.
"This is unthinkable at any other pulp & paper company in Australia,” continued Millar.
“WorkCover NSW must step in and place the work practices of this company under scrutiny before someone is killed or seriously injured.”
ProPrint contacted Visy but they were unavailable to comment on the matter.
The Tumut mill was opened in 2001, and the company is no stranger to controversy and incident. Its external paper store Kraft Mill was damaged by fire in 2010, and concerns regarding the company’s capacity to provide a safe working environment have filtered through the industry for some time.
Visy is a multi-billion dollar provider of recycling, paper and packaging products and services, and has been in business for over 60 years with operations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the USA.
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