The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) has successfully lobbied for McDonald's to improve safety measures at its Hindley Street outlet in Adelaide, following reports of violent incidents involving customers and workers. SafeWork SA issued improvement notices after a complaint was made by the union, and safety screens have now been installed to create a physical barrier between staff and customers. The screens are intended to protect workers from abuse, spitting, and physical attacks.

Josh Peak, the SDA Secretary, has said that the screens will prevent customers from throwing food or accessing the kitchen, while also providing a safer working environment for McDonald's staff. The SDA has criticised McDonald's for failing to provide adequate protection for its workers and will now request that a full risk assessment be carried out in all South Australian stores. SafeWork SA has reminded customers that they have a duty to comply with work health and safety laws, and may face legal action if they adversely affect the safety of others in the workplace.

McDonald's has said that it is committed to reviewing restaurant protection measures and that the safety of staff and customers is its top priority. The fast-food chain has a zero-tolerance policy for anti-social behaviour, and expects its staff to be treated with respect at all times. While this is the first McDonald's restaurant in South Australia to be ordered to install safety screens, other fast-food outlets have already introduced similar measures in response to increasing concerns about workplace safety.

Employers have a duty to ensure the safety of their workers, and it is important that they take steps to address any issues or risks that may arise.

To keep their workers safe, employers should:

• Conduct a risk assessment to identify potential hazards in the workplace and develop strategies to minimise or eliminate those risks – in this case one of those strategies would be installing safety screens or other physical barriers to protect workers from harm
• Provide training and support to staff to help them deal with hazards (in this case - violent & abusive customers)
• Ensure that workers have access to emergency support and that protocols are in place to deal with incidents of violence or abuse (do you have an Employer Assistance Program? Do you conduct regular training with your staff on WH&S hazards?)
• Encourage workers to report any safety concerns or incidents and take appropriate action to address them.

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