Transport Workers Union accuses Qantas of exposing workers at Adelaide Airport to coronavirus
Safework SA is looking into accusations by the TWU that Qantas exposed workers to COVID-19 at Adelaide Airport. The airline has said it followed all SA Health directives and accused the union of “wilfully misrepresenting” the situation.
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Safework SA is examining allegations that Qantas endangered baggage handlers and staff at Adelaide Airport by exposing them to the coronavirus.
The Transport Workers Union has accused the airline of directing its staff to continue working despite being exposed to workers who had tested positive to the virus.
On Sunday, SA Health confirmed 750 Qantas staff had been told to quarantine themselves after 18 baggage handlers at Adelaide Airport tested positive to COVID-19.
Three other workers and 13 people who came into close contact with the airport personnel have also tested positive.
Qantas has responded to the allegation by accusing the TWU of “wilfully misrepresenting” the situation and insisting that SA Health guidelines were followed to the letter.
“Unfortunately, a few weeks ago one of our baggage handlers at the airport entered the workplace while infectious and unknowingly passed the virus to others,” a Qantas spokesman said.
“Qantas has complied fully with SA Health’s directions and any employee identified as needing to self-isolate through their contact tracing process has been immediately directed to do so. If employees were not required to self-isolate by SA Health then they have continued to work as usual. They were reminded not to come to work if they were feeling unwell.”
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said the union would be gathering its own evidence and called for an investigation into the handling of the outbreak at Adelaide Airport.
“The evidence we have gathered so far shows that Qantas knowingly exposed other workers to the coronavirus after it became clear that a worker at Adelaide Airport had contracted the virus,” he said.
“Instead of directing workers who had been in contact with that worker to self-isolate, Qantas directed staff to continue coming to work.
“Others went on to contract the virus and no doubt spread it to even more staff and their families.”
A Safework SA spokeswoman said the watchdog was looking into concerns raised by the TWU about the health and safety of Qantas freight and baggage handlers.
“They also raised concerns about Qantas’ alleged lack of response in implementing a safe system of work in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak at Adelaide Airport,” she said.
“SafeWork SA are currently making enquiries and are keeping TWU informed.
“As this is a current open file, we are unable to provide further information.”
An SA Health spokeswoman said that the first case in the “Qantas cluster” was detected on March 27, with more quickly following.
“Our initial advice to Adelaide Airport was based on the information we received at the time,” she said.
“Once we received more information and saw more confirmed cases from other staff areas, we expanded our scope.”
SA’s deputy chief public health officer Dr Mike Cusack, said Qantas was “very supportive of the investigation”.
Premier Steven Marshall said the Government was pleased with Qantas and Adelaide Airport’s co-operation.
Originally published as Transport Workers Union accuses Qantas of exposing workers at Adelaide Airport to coronavirus