An Aussie driver has been praised for stopping to tell off a group of workers spraying concrete dust into the air in a residential area while cutting a driveway.
The man filmed himself confronting the workers in a suburban street in Victoria after seeing them saw cutting concrete in what appears to be a violation of safety standards.
The video, which was posted on social media this week, showed the men cutting into the concrete and sending large clouds of dust into the air, prompting the driver to ask: “Are you guys seriously dry cutting? Are you seriously dry cutting saw cuts?”
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One of the men, who were of Middle Eastern appearance, walked over, shook his head and asked the driver not to record as he was asked “do you know how dangerous that is?”
“I’m recording, do you know how dangerous that is? That dust right there is harmful to everyone around here, you stop cutting that right now and get some water,” he said.
The worker again gestured at the man not to record, to which he replied: “I’ll record whatever I want, do not dry cut saw cuts in a residential area! I’m going to report this.”
WorkSafe Victoria states that dry cutting concrete is unsafe as it “can generate large amounts of dust, including respirable silica dust that can cause silicosis (a serious respiratory illness) if inhaled”.
The video was posted on popular Instagram channel tradiefckups where hundreds of commenters weighed in, many thanking the driver for stopping and speaking up, and others suggesting the workers were unskilled immigrants.
“For the first time ever I am voting Pauline Hanson in the next election. F this,” read one of the most popular comments.
“Good on you for pulling them up. Fkn drongos,” wrote political commentator Chris Katerlaris.
“Oi bro I’m glad you called this out because my dumb arse self was today’s year old that learnt this was dangerous, me if I lived in the area would have just strolled by breathing in fresh air not knowing I’m in danger,” said one Aussie.
“I’ve never seen an Aussie dry cut concrete expansion joins/ tilt panels or even core hole in my 20 years of construction work in Queensland,” wrote another.
“In 10-15 years we will be paying for their cancer treatment.. they weren’t even wearing masks,” another said.
Header image: Left, right, the confrontation with the concreters (Instagram).
