The union has formally raised multiple breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 regarding worker welfare in the Specialist Resources Unit.
Read UWU’s Correspondence to AV
The primary concern being the risk of psychosocial and physical harm to workers due to a lack of contingency planning when staffing levels are reduced. The unit has relied on just two workers with highly specialised expertise to manage a diverse and operationally critical portfolio, ensuring the readiness and deployment of key emergency resources across Victoria.
Following a period where one worker was on leave and another tragically passed away, there was no plan in place to maintain safe operations within the unit. Interim workers who stepped in to support the unit were exposed to increased risk of injury due to a gap in training and planning.
The union raised these concerns directly with Ambulance Victoria. While AV disputed that the unit was unsafe, it subsequently initiated multiple risk assessments, highlighting the seriousness of the issues raised. UWU will continue to pursue this matter to ensure safe staffing levels, appropriate contingency planning, and training are in place.