Mandurah is one hour drive south of Perth. The region offers sand, surf, fishing and crabbing activities. Families and couples have been enjoying Silver Sands Resort for almost forty years. This timeshare facility is now under threat of having all staff walk out as the new manager insists on flaunting Worksafe legislation and risking workers’ lives.

Ivan Hill is Silver Sands Resort’s new manager. He took on the role last September and then called a stop-work on the roof’s safety rails: “They aren’t necessary. Nobody’s needed them before. They shouldn’t even be there.”

It’s true. There is no record of anyone falling from the forty-year-old roof. But workplace safety matters more today than it did in the 1980’s. Few modern managers wait for injury or death to occur today to improve the safety of their workplaces, especially if they are well aware of the risks.

Yes, the risk issue was identified a while ago. The resort’s board of directors commissioned an engineer to do a risk assessment on the roof right away. Its findings were conclusive. Staff or contractors could easily fall over the edge of the building. The roof required safety rails around its perimeter to prevent injury or death. Specifications were provided and work began to make the roof compliant with the engineer’s safety standards.

The resort is not new to making changes to comply with new updates in state legislation. Former managers addressed each issue as they were presented with them.

Pool fencing was upgraded when fencing laws were changed. Water management was improved when water quality compliance was updated. Old electrical wiring was removed and replaced with new safety switches. Ramps were built and handrails were installed. All of these improvements were done for guest safety, but not the roof rails. The guests don’t go on the roof.

Worker safety is a low priority to resort manager Mr Hill. Employees are fed up with him with his unilateral management style. That’s why morale is falling.

Mr Hill is not just a recently self-appointed resort manager, he’s had a minor role as secretary to the board of directors. Heep keeps the minutes of their meetings. This means he’s been aware of the roof safety investigation ever since the beginning of it. While he openly agrees with the directors to progress with the work, he tells staff another thing.

The work has stopped and it has remained that way ever since his appointment.

No one knows if or when the board of directors will reprimand Ivan Hill.

Stay tuned for updates.