We were contacted by members alerting us to a serious occupational health and safety issue which has developed in the Haematology Laboratory. For 12 months St Vincent’s Health has failed to act on the recommendations of an independent review for the appointment of additional staff. The issue finally came to a boil with the highly stressed members passing a resolution demanding that St Vincent’s take immediate action to resolve the Occupational Safety issues affecting the wellbeing of members. The unreasonable increase in workload coupled with the unrealistic demands of filling the rotating roster with insufficient scientists has affected the wellbeing of members. Many members reported instances of dizziness while driving home after work, continual headaches, chronic lethargy, disorientation and mild depression. In fact some members have had to seek medical assistance. The Union raised the matter with St Vincent’s Health as a suspected contravention under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. Furthermore we have requested St Vincent’s Health appoint the additional staff as recommended by the independent review without further delay.

STOP PRESS: We met with St Vincent’s Health on the 30th April 2008. It has agreed to appoint an additional 2 full time scientists immediately. We are scheduled to meet again next week.