House debates

Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Statements by Members

Northern Territory: Workplace Safety

1:41 pm

Photo of Luke GoslingLuke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I want to salute a great electrical safety initiative in the Northern Territory by the Electrical Trades Union, the ETU, to keep apprentices safe. It's called the Electrical Lockout and Tag Out Kit initiative. This campaign began after a couple of electrical workers in the NT were fatally electrocuted, one of whom was an apprentice. It urges all electrical workers to put safety first by disconnecting the power before they begin work and locking and tagging out the source of supply.

This initiative to supply every apprentice in the NT with a lockout, tag-out kit was first put forward by the ETU's Northern Territory subbranch. The kits include equipment to safely isolate the electricity supply and identify why it was isolated and who is working on that installation. This SURVIVE, don't work LIVE campaign sends a clear message to electrical workers with a focus on educating apprentices on the dangers of electricity. Lockout, tag-out kits are being supplied to all NT electrical apprentices. Sadly, this is being funded through enforceable undertakings—that is, fines imposed by NT WorkSafe on companies who failed these workers. Everyone should return home safely after a day's work. Well done to the ETU.