Qantas in breach of safety laws

WORKCOVER has ordered Qantas to develop emergency procedures for its Sydney domestic terminal after finding the airline in breach of safety laws for failing to train or drill staff on what to do in a disaster.

As the federal government sharpens its focus on the threat of terrorism and seeks to strengthen aviation security, airport staff told the Herald they had not taken part in an emergency drill since 2001.

The chief executive, Alan Joyce, was served with two improvement notices by WorkCover NSW this week that show the airline in breach of workplace safety legislation.

Inspectors had found a safety risk at Terminal 3 because Qantas had provided staff with inadequate information and training on fire or emergency arrangements, the first notice states. The airline has been told to implement safety systems and ensure emergency drills take place.

A second notice found baggage handlers were at risk of injury because there were inadequate numbers of staff loading and unloading aircraft luggage.

A Qantas spokesman yesterday acknowledged WorkCover had issued the notices. ''We welcome this scrutiny. Action plans have already been developed to work with our people to address the issues raised,'' he said.

''We have always had detailed emergency procedures and training in place at Sydney domestic terminal including annual evacuation exercises …'' But an airport worker, who did not want to be named, said that before a fire drill on Friday in response to WorkCover's inspection, he could not recall any emergency drills in his section since 2001. Staff who had joined since had not even been told the location of the emergency assembly point.

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