Safety campaign honours BlueScope steel worker

BlueScope Steel in Port Kembla have begun a Stop for Safety campaign in response to a NSW-wide ban by the Australian Workers' Union on the use of high pressure hoses.

Workers at BlueScope Steel have been asked to take part in a "Stop for Safety" campaign in remembrance of Setaleki Kolomaka a co-worker and AWU member who died at the company's Springhill street site in Port Kembla last month.

Mr Kolomaka died after he was hit in the chest by a high-pressure stream of water while cleaning a catchment sump.

AWU Port Kembla branch secretary, Andy Gillespie, said that until design alterations were made to the equipment, workers would not be using the hose.

"We have banned it with all our members across the state," Mr Gillespie said.

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Mr Gillespie said the union had been in discussions with WorkCover to amend the design of the water blaster.

The steel giants Stop for Safety campaign asks Port Kembla workers to consider two questions:

• What tasks do you undertake at work that you feel are high risk?

• Is there a safer way to do the work we do?