10 July 2013:
Unions are concerned safety could suffer due to BHPs recent decision to replace the Queensland Ambulance Service with a private paramedic firm.
According to the Sunshine Coast Daily, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has replaced Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics with private firm ER24, which will now act as first responders at BMA’s Central Queensland operations.
District senior vice president of the CFMEU, Mitch Hughes, said he was concerned that financial savings were being prioritised over worker safety.
“This is a serious issue in mines, especially underground mines without mobile phone access,” he said
“Mineworkers deserve the best first aid, not the cheapest.”
ER24 has been operating as first responder at BMAs Goonyella Riverside mine for the past three years, and will now operate at all BMA sites across Central Queensland.
The company claims the changes allow for BMA to now have paramedics at all its sites including at the Port of Hay Point, instead of relying on an on-call officer at night.
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