Transport workers across Australia are marking Workers’ Memorial Day with solemn vigils at Cleanaway sites, honouring the eight employees who have died at the company since mid‑2022, including five in just the past two years. The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) says the commemorations are not only about remembrance, but a call for urgent action to address what it describes as a deepening safety crisis.
Recent TWU safety inspections have uncovered a series of alarming hazards at Cleanaway facilities. Reports detail biological risks such as broken blood samples, spilled urine, and used syringes left exposed on medical bins. Inspectors also found blocked fire exits, deteriorated emergency signage, outdated spill kits and extinguishers, and first aid equipment past its usable life. Vehicle maintenance issues were also flagged, including trucks operating with mirrors held together by sticky tape.
Despite these concerns, Cleanaway CEO Mark Schubert received $4.2 million in remuneration last financial year. His annual bonus was reduced by 30% following worker deaths and rising injury rates. At the company’s AGM, 40% of shareholders voted against executive pay, citing declining safety performance and lack of accountability.
With enterprise bargaining underway at Cleanaway sites nationwide, thousands of waste workers may soon have the option to take protected industrial action if safety standards do not improve. The TWU in NSW has also launched a case in the Industrial Relations Commission, alleging the company has prevented union officials from conducting safety inspections.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said the number of fatalities at Cleanaway reflects a systemic failure.
“All worker deaths are preventable, and the fact that we have seen five workers killed at Cleanaway in just two years is not just tragic, it is a safety crisis,” he said. Kaine added that workers have been exposed to “deplorable conditions,” from biological hazards to poorly maintained vehicles.
He said the vigils serve both as a moment of reflection and a warning. “Today we remember the workers killed at Cleanaway, and we think of their families and their communities. But we are also sending a message loud and clear: if Cleanaway refuses to lift safety and standards around the country, we will force it to.”
TWU Director of Organising Josh Millroy called on Brisbane City Council to remember the expectations of ratepayers that Council must adhere to workplace health and safety when contracting out services.
“They [ratepayers] want to know that when they’re paying their rates to a Council, that the Council is spending their money on a company that upholds workers’ safety. They want to know that when they go to sites, that they are safe. It doesn’t matter if it’s residential, commercial or industrial, they want to know that their ratepayer funds are going towards a company that is keeping its workforce safe, and the public safe.”
“We’re also calling on Brisbane City Council to say – fix up your dodgy contractors, make sure they keep their workers safe, and make sure to keep the general population safe, too.”
As the TWU continues to push for stronger protections, workers say they are prepared to escalate action to ensure no more lives are lost.
