The South Coast Labour Council has vowed to not let Mark Roberts' death be in vain by ensuring the workers at the Port Kembla Coal Terminal are safe while at work.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Roberts was dumping a load of coal into the chute on Thursday. His leg became trapped beneath the wheels of the truck after he tried to re-enter the cabin when it began to move.
Locked-out Port Kembla Coal Terminal union workers and South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris laid flowers at the padlocked gate in tribute to their colleague who died on Monday.
Mr Rorris said safety was the labour council's top priority for its workers.
"Every family has a right to expect to see their loved one walk back in the door in one piece after they finish their shift," he said.
"Our immediate task is to offer whatever assistance we can to Mr Roberts' family and friends. Our next task is to ensure that this does not happen again.
"It is tragic it has come to this at a time when our people were outside the gate and could not assist. But we will not rest until the safety of everyone on this site is observed and is guaranteed."
The terminal and union are at a stalemate over a job security clause in any new agreement.
A PCKT spokeswoman said it had suspended its operations for the day out of respect for Mr Roberts' family.
"Our thoughts are with the family, and we are respecting their wish for privacy," she said.
PKCT put a ban on all truck movements into and out of the site following the workplace incident.
Mr Rorris said the labour council would not recommend for workers to visit PKCT until official health and safety representatives were convinced it was safe.
He said there PKCT had "systemic failures" when dealing with emergency procedures.
The company has been served three health and safety notices outlining the minimum number of qualified health and safety representatives required on site at any given time.
"We will not rest until we are confident this site is absolutely safe, that the terminal has the designated health and safety representatives, that the council has confidence in the terminal's emergency planning systems and that everyone is doing the job they are capable and qualified to do," Mr Rorris said.
