WorkCover asked to investigate supplements programs at all Victorian AFL clubs after Essendon scandalHerald-Sun
June 17, 2014 6:25PMUPDATE: THE Victorian WorkCover Authority has been asked to investigate the supplement programs at all Victorian AFL clubs over claims that players’ health has been put at risk.
Documents sent to the workplace authority accuse the clubs of failing to protect players’ welfare. The documents list Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs.
The only other Victorian club, Essendon, was already under investigation by WorkCover.
Kate Fawcett, a spokeswoman for the authority, confirmed the request was being considered.
“The Victorian WorkCover Authority can confirm it has received a request under section 131 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 to conduct an investigation into alleged risks to health and safety involving nine AFL clubs,” she said.
“The Victorian WorkCover Authority is currently reviewing this request.”
WorkCover must investigate requests made in accordance with section 131 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The documents, published by the ABC, state the claim was made after the AFL admitted last year it had concerns about supplements programs at 12 league clubs.
“The conduct of supplements programs under the AFL regulations as they applied during the 2013 and prior seasons, potentially exposed players to risks to health and safety,” the documents state.
“Those risks arose and/or were exacerbated by inadequate record-keeping, sourcing, staffing, and central accountability and oversight.
“The matters ... implicate potentially all of the AFL Clubs in the League. These including all of the Victorian AFL Clubs, each of which is an employer subject to the Act.”
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said an audit last year found no other clubs had problems similar to Essendon.
“After the ACC report was released in early 2013, the AFL Commission met immediately on February 7 and determined that an audit would be held of all clubs in our competition,” he said.
“No club was found to be in breach of the AFL’s rules and regulations as per the matters that saw Essendon investigated and then sanctioned in August 2013.
“The audit determined the AFL would make a number of changes to our rules and processes, and these changes were publicly notified to our clubs in October last year.”
http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/workcover-asked-to-investigate-supplements-programs-at-all-victorian-afl-clubs-after-essendon-scandal/story-fnii5sms-1226957776752
