AN120684 – Plumbers and Gasfitters (State) Consolidated Award

48. INSURANCE OF TOOLS AND CLOTHING

(a) An employee whose clothes, spectacles, hearing aids or tools have been accidentally spoilt by acid, sulphur or other deleterious substances, shall be paid such amount to cover the loss thereby suffered by him as may be agreed between him/her and his/her employer or, in default of agreement, as may be fixed by the Industrial Committee.

(b) (i) An employee shall be reimbursed by his employer amount as set out in Item 74 of Table 2 - Other Rates and Allowances, of Part B, Monetary Rates, for loss of tools or clothes by fire or breaking and entering whilst securely stored at the employer's direction in a room or building on the employer's premises, job or workshop or in a lock-up, or if the tools are lost or stolen while being transported by the employee at the employer's direction, or if the tools are lost over water or if the tools are lost or stolen during an employee's absence after leaving the job because of injury or illness.

(ii) Where an employee is absent from work because of illness or accident and had advised the employer in accordance with clause 31, Sick Leave, the employer shall ensure that the employee's tools are securely stored during his absence.

(c) When an employer requires an employee to wear spectacles with toughened glass lenses the employer will pay the cost of the toughening process.

(d) Provided that for the purpose of this clause:

(i) only tools used by the employee in the course of his/her employment shall be covered by this clause;

(ii) the employee shall, if requested to do so, furnish the employer with a list of tools used;

(iii) reimbursement shall be at the current replacement value of new tools of the same or comparable quality;

(iv) the employee shall report any theft to the police prior to making a claim on the employer for replacement of stolen tools outside the ordinary working hours while the tools are stored at the employer's discretion on the job.