After five deaths in two months, Australia's food delivery workers speak out about unsafe conditions

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Food delivery riders have spoken out about their working conditions as a spate of deaths in Australia puts renewed scrutiny on the industry.

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Ash, who only wanted to use his first name because he was scared of losing work, has delivered food on a bicycle for the past three years.

“I’m in a WhatsApp group with a number of other riders and the number of screenshots they post from the companies where they are getting basically told they are going to get deactivated or lose their job if they are slow to deliveries,” he said. "The amount that we are being paid is absolutely essential to the conditions and how safely you are able to ride during our shifts."

The union spoke of a lack of training for riders, no personal protective equipment being provided - such as lights, helmets, high-vis jackets or shoes - and pressure being put on riders to meet delivery times.TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said the threat of riders being kicked off the platform for not meeting deadlines was a real risk.

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Workplace health & safety WHS obligations - flurovests bikelights helmets are basic musts in the deliveryfood environment UberEats Deliveroo Menulog

SBS Consumers need to take responsibility for the 'cost of their convenience' too - don't buy from companies that dictate to workers as they would an employee, yet refuse to take any responsibility for them. These are some of the most vulnerable / exploited workers in Australia.

Let this be a horrible lesson to learn about employers placing too higher demands on their workers, the workers put themselves at risk to meet these demands for fear of losing their jobs. Hard ass bosses and greed are to blame, nothing to do with road safety by the way.

SBS Excuse me but...these guys try and go through the cars and traffic like no tomorrow! I've had close calls with them several times and one of them made a bent in drivers car door! Don't blame the companies..blame the drivers...and I feel sorry for the deaths.

It is amazing how badly they've missed the point.

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