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Police Association Prosecutes NSW Police
over Lead
The following is the
Editorial from POLICE NEWS, JANUARY, 1999, Page 3. Reprinted with kind permission.
UNSAFE WORK PRACTICE AND LEAD
The emphasis on Occupational Health and Safety is increasing daily
with the increasing costs of death and injury in the workplace. The New South Wales
Government has initiated processes to have the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 20
of 1983 redrafted. The redraft of the legislation is to be written in plain English to
make it more user friendly so that everyone can understand their roles and
responsibilities. The Police Association, in conjunction with the Labor Council of new
South Wales, is involved in this process. John Cumberland, our Occupational Health and
Safety Coordinator, was invited to represent the Labor Council and place a submission
before the Parliamentary Subcommittee.
The Act obliges employers to provide a safe system of work.
Unfortunately some of the steps taken by corporations and Government bodies fail to comply
with this requirement. The recent injuries to a number of our members as a result of
overexposure to lead is an example of this.
Lead is an industrial toxicant with a long history of use in the
workplace. The negative health effects it produces means it requires control. Boston
University's Department of Public health suggests that lead poisoning of employees at
weapons ranges may be more significant than formerly realised.
Inhalation of airborne lead, or ingestion, at least at high does,
can cause nerve, blood or kidney damage. Symptoms include general fatigue, irritability,
concentration difficulties, tremor, headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting, weight loss or
constipation.
Members of the New South Wales Police Association have been
subjected to an intense conversion-training program for the issue of new firearms.
Concerns have been raised over the increased numbers of rounds fired which have led to a
higher exposure to the hazardous by-products of the firearm or ammunition. No ongoing
monitoring of ranges or trainers has occurred for a number of years.
During testing of weapons trainers, a higher concentration of
inorganic lead was found in some blood samples. Students undergoing training and ranges
were subsequently tested. The students returned elevated blood lead concentrations and
some readings from ranges were quite alarming and well over the National Standards for
airborne contaminants. Three ranges have been closed due to the high concentration of
airborne lead particles. It is assumed at this stage, that the airflow patterns and the
ventilation's inability to remove the lead hazard at these ranges caused the concentration
levels.
The Lead Reference Centre and Lead Advisory Service have provided
valuable assistance. Initially, in September [1998] our knowledge of the effects and
health risks of lead was minimal. These agencies supplied us with the initial
documentation and contacts enabling our Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator to
better comprehend the problem.
Unfortunately the lack of rudimentary knowledge of the effects of
lead extends to the medical field. Members affected by lead weren't able to obtain
relevant information from their local general practitioner and even received differing
viewpoints from those within the Police Service.
At this stage arrangements are under way to test all weapons
trainers, both full and part-time, all ranges, as well as students who have undergone
training at specific ranges. The testing of homes of members with elevated blood levels
have also been conducted to ensure no secondary contamination of their families.
Meetings have been held with affected members and their families at
the instigation of the Police Association. These meetings have been held with Local Area
Health Services, the Lead Reference Centre and the Lead Advisory Service and have proved
an invaluable tool for the dissemination of information to our members and their families.
A timely education meeting for affiliates of the Labor Council was
held at Newcastle at the time of the media release on our concerns about lead. As a result
of that meeting we have fielded numerous questions from associate unions and other
policing unions nationwide seeking further advice.
It is our belief that the dangers associated with lead have been
known by the Police Service since the early 1980s. The Police Association is therefore in
the process of launching prosecution against the Police Service for unsafe workplace and
work practices with regard to this issue. This task has been assisted with the guidance
and information provided by all the above agencies.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Police Service
should ensure a safe workplace for all employees. While we know that policing is often
unpredictable and contains hidden dangers, employees should be entitled to a workplace
that is free from risks in their day to day processes and procedures. For too long police
have been restricted by inadequate budgeting forcing them to make do with inadequate
resources and training.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act is very specific. Not only do
we as an employee representative organisation and our members have to adhere to this Act,
so too does the Police Service.
It will be our intention to make sure they do so
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