IT would be irresponsible for anybody to pass legal judgement over the workplace health and safety standards of any project. That’s best left to the experts.
However, there would seem to be a line of common sense and courtesy which has been crossed by at least some of the workers at Beenleigh’s Main St beautification project.
If council officers have seen the videos as is being alleged, it is appalling that they have failed to act on pictures published on today’s front page of MyCity Logan.
As is the case with any employee of any business, workers on the Main St project must be held to account for their actions.
Councils’ response to whistleblowers who report wrongdoing – often with a perceived self-interest – is often that they are annoying, getting in the way of a project, or just plain negative.
The right thing to do would be to accept that the types of thing which have been caught on camera at Main St are inexcusable. And then to reassure the public that action has been taken to improve or prevent any perceived malpractice.
Workers might not be legally obliged to stand behind machinery to warn pedestrians of any possible dangers, but common sense would suggest that would be the polite thing to do.
Maybe it’s not illegal to leave exposed concrete ledges up to 20cm deep without signage or barriers to protect the safety of unsuspecting pedestrians. But common sense would suggest it’s unsafe and not compliant with council’s request to help businesses through three months of financial turmoil.
It’s certainly illegal to drive the wrong way down a one-way street. And traffic attendants during construction would be able to stop such behaviour.
Maybe it’s not illegal to tell complainants to “**** you, go talk to council.” Or to throw shovels down onto concrete in anger. But it’s impolite, regardless of how annoying the complaint.
Council’s response was nothing short of defensive.
Instead of asking to see the videos and to investigate, the response was glowing of the project, supportive of officers who had arranged “alternative fencing” as a support mechanism for businesses, and claimed council takes public health and safety seriously.
An article which reflects poorly on the behaviour of some contractors, and perhaps the processes of the work being done, is not critical of the project.
Main St, when complete, will no doubt add to the city’s economic prospects. And kudos to council for giving people what they said they wanted.
But the point cannot be missed, or indeed dismissed. Photos and video clearly indicates points of concern.
Council’s responsibility is not only to make shopkeepers happy. It is to keep pedestrians safe, and it is to act responsibly when alerted to issues of potentially critical consequence.
In any environment, there is potential for bad apples – and that is neither the fault of council or the contractor.
Now that they are aware however, council needs to work with their successful tender to have the courage to hold any such thuggery to account.
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