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S A F E T Y N E W S<br />
with Steve McCann<br />
There is NO place for any bullying on worksites!<br />
The problem of Workplace Bullying<br />
is becoming more and more of a<br />
serious <strong>issue</strong> in today’s workplace.<br />
Most of the perpetrators will go<br />
unpunished mainly because the<br />
victim of the bullying is not aware of<br />
how to deal with the situation or<br />
who to inform that this is taking<br />
place.<br />
Bullying at work can be defined<br />
as repeated, unreasonable or<br />
inappropriate behaviour directed<br />
towards a worker or group of<br />
workers, that creates a risk to health<br />
and safety.<br />
Bullying includes abuse, physical or<br />
verbal violence, humiliation and<br />
undermining someone’s confidence,<br />
usually in the presence of work<br />
colleagues to maximize the effect.<br />
If you see bullying happening in your<br />
workplace don’t support it by<br />
staying silent or doing nothing about<br />
it. Behaviours that have been widely<br />
accepted in many, if not all,<br />
workplaces in the past are now<br />
identified as “bullying”.<br />
Examples are<br />
• Abusive, insulting or offensive<br />
language.<br />
• Behaviour or language that<br />
frightens, humiliates, belittles or<br />
degrades, including criticism<br />
that is delivered with yelling and<br />
screaming.<br />
• Inappropriate comments about<br />
a person’s appearance, lifestyle,<br />
or their family.<br />
• Ridiculing a work colleague or<br />
regularly making someone the<br />
brunt of pranks or practical<br />
jokes.<br />
There are measures you can take if you are being bullied:<br />
u Contact the workplace Health and Safety Representative.<br />
u If you are comfortable in doing so, talk to the bully about the<br />
situation.<br />
u Keep a written record or diary.<br />
u Write down details of every incident and keep copies of any<br />
relevant documents.<br />
u Making a formal complaint to management.<br />
u If the situation does not improve contact Worksafe/Comcare or<br />
the Mines Department (whichever department has jurisdiction<br />
over your workplace).<br />
u Contact your Union Safety Officer.<br />
It should be noted that it is an offence under the Occupational Health and<br />
Safety Act to bully anyone and a prosecution could result if found guilty.<br />
If you feel you are being subjected to this type of behaviour contact<br />
CFMEU Safety Officer Steve McCann on 0488 102 297.<br />
Construction Worker – <strong>Autumn</strong> 2013 Page 25<br />
CFMEU
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