NATIONAL SAFETY REVIEW NEEDED AT QANTAS

The TWU is calling for a national safety review to be carried out at Qantas following yesterday's workplace fatality.

A 63 year old woman fell to her death from a Qantas 747 at the Brisbane International Terminal while loading meals onto the aircraft.

TWU National Airlines Official Scott Connolly says, "The woman was a long time employee at Qantas and we need to know what happened to prevent future workplace accidents and fatalities at Qantas."

This is the second time in two years a person has fallen from an aerobridge, used by airlines to load meals or passengers onto an aircraft.

Mr Connolly says, "The TWU expect the Government and Workplace Health and Safety to carry out a full investigation into the cause of this workplace fatality and to carry out a national review of machinery and equipment used at Qantas."

Mr Connolly says, "Over the last 12 months there have been reports of serious safety and security breaches at Qantas and employees deserve to work in a safe environment."

The TWU will be holding an urgent meeting with the company at 8am this morning.