Media Release: 14 December 2009

Nurse request for safer work environment ignored

The Australian Nursing Federation is deeply disappointed that nurses who are working in unsafe hospitals and environments may have to wait up to three months before employers are forced to act on their concerns.

The ANF recently highlighted the rising trend of nurses coming under physical attack from drug and alcohol affected patients.

However Safe Work Australia do not intend to force employers to listen to nurse concerns.
Other occupational health and safety issues affecting nurses include bullying, falls, physical and psychological injuries.

“We would like employers to consult with nurses about safety issues however the new legislation retains loop holes that allow them to avoid these discussions,” ANF Federal Secretary Ged Kearney said.

“It is frightening to think that as the legislation now stands employers can delay training new OHS officers for up to three months which could see nurses continuing to work in an unsafe environment.”

“We call on Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard, to protect health workers and amend the laws so nurses can care for their patients without fear of being injured either from a violent patient or through an unsafe work environment,” Ms Kearney said.

“We must protect the nurse work force. The only way to achieve this is through improved communication between employers and employees, unfortunately this includes forcing them to listen.”

Media Contacts
Eleni Hale, Media and Communications (03) 9602 8522 / 0402337388
Ged Kearney, Federal Secretary 0417 053 322
Lee Thomas, Assistant Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Andrew McCarthy, Industrial Officer (03) 9602 8521/0437 121 663

The ANF, with 170,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.