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PRESS STATEMENT by the Minister for National Development ,c. c. 77/79

SECOND REPORT ON SURVEY OF HEALTH OF EMPLOYEES OF THE

AUSTRALIAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

The Minister for National Development, the

Hon. Kevin Newman said today that the Second Report on

the Survey of Health of Employees in the Research .   Establishment of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission

had been distributed to members of the Trade Unions at

Lucas Heights involved in the Survey.

Mr Newman said that the Report would now be made

available to the public.  He stated that the Report had

recently been completed by Professor Ferguson, Professor  of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University

of Sydney.  Â·  '  '  '

Among its findings the Report states that on

evidence available, radiation safety at the Research  Establishment has complied with the highest international

standards, and that the author knows of no establishment  in Australia which sets such standards of industrial safety

control, nor one in which events are so thoroughly Â· .  .   investigated. .

Mr Newman was pleased to note that there has been

no evidence of any ill effect from exposure to ionising  radiation, to uranium or to beryllium at the Research

Establishment, nor was there evidence of occupational  induction of cancer from radiation or chemical exposure.

Mr Newman said that the Report makes a number of '

comments and suggestions relating to health and safety  control in the Establishment but notes many of these

suggestions are in process of implementation or are planned.  He said that careful consideration is being given by the

Australian Atomic. Energy Commission to these matters and

that there will be discussions between the Commission, '

the Labor Council and the affiliated unions.

. . ./2

Mr Newman recalled that the Survey had been

initiated in 1974 following expressions of concern by staff

associations over possible ill-health arising from

working conditions at the Research Establishment at.

Lucas Heights. The AAEC in conjunction with the Labor

Council of New South Wales and its affiliated unions,  agreed at that time that the survey would be conducted by  the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health

in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, an  establishment of the Commonwealth Department of Health

within the University of Sydney. The Survey had comprised

medical interviews of staff, analysis of records of  environmental monitoring, exposure incidents, sickness

absence, workers’  compensation, premature morbidity,

retirement and mortality, and observations on tasks and

work environments.

The First Report on the Survey released in May 1978,

was concerned with analysis of medical interviews of

Commission staff. .

On 29 August 1979, Professor Ferguson presented  his SecondÂ·.Report to a meeting of union delegates at the

Research Establishment. The unions have since had further  meetings,-as a result of which a sub-committee of delegates

and officials has been'set up to consider the unions'  attitude to the Report and its recommendations.

Mr Newman went on.to say that he had been advised

by the AAEC that the unions would be meeting again in

approximately one month’s time, and he expects that, as in  the past, there will then be formal discussions between

the AAEC and the Labor Council and affiliated unions.

(Copies of the Second Report may be obtained at a

cost of $10 per copy from the Australian Atomic Energy

Commission, P.0. Box 41,.Coogee, N.S.W. 2034; contact

officer - Mr E. A. Lane, Tel. 02/6651221).

Canberra *  .  .  .

19 September 1979 .  Ã¢ÂÂ   .  ,

