News

On 4th December 2023, WorkSafe conducted an inspection at BalSECC following concerns from Ambulance Victoria (AV) Clinicians and their Health and Safety Representative Graham McGrath relating to:

• Fatigue risk to BALECC Clinicians.
• Availability of only one Clinician between 2100 and 0700.
• Inability to take breaks during this time.
• Reports of stress, fatigue and burnout.
• Inadequate support and measures for reducing the risk of work-related stress.

As a result of that inspection, WorkSafe have issued an improvement notice.

WorkSafe have stated that the AV has no system of work for assessing the risk of work-related stress and responding to reports of work-related stress in relation to BALSECC Clinicians.

WorkSafe have given AV until 5:00PM on 4 June 2024 to comply with the improvement notice by:

• Conducting a risk assessment in conjunction with HSRs in relation to work-related stress factors affecting BALSECC Clinicians (e.g., high job demands, working in isolation, low job control);
• Implementing any effective risk controls that are reasonably practicable; and
• Regularly reviewing risk control measures.

Clinicians have been patiently awaiting the implementation of the Clinician Redesign since late 2022, after repeatedly raising concerns about unmanageable workload, fatigue, stress and burnout. This reform has now been pushed back to March 2024 with AV citing budget constraints.

HSRs and the health and safety framework are a very effective mechanism for raising concerns about workload, stress, fatigue, and burnout. Many people believe that the role of the HSR is purely targeted towards manual handling, occupational violence, trip hazards and sharps risk. However, HSRs are increasingly using their powers under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to protect members from psychosocial hazards that are present in the ambulance workplace.

In solidarity