THE VICTORIAN WorkCover Authority has decided to proceed with an investigation into allegations of alleged health and safety risks at nine AFL clubs.
The workplace health and safety watchdog received a complaint from a member of the public earlier this week and on Friday decided that it would proceed with a full-scale investigation.
Under Victorian legislation WorkCover is obligated to conduct an investigation if a complaint is deemed to be valid.
The VWA has given no indication as to how long the investigation could take or what resources will be invested into its inquiries, but the act outlines a three-month timeframe.
"The Victorian WorkCover Authority is conducting an investigation into alleged risks to health and safety at nine Victorian based AFL clubs following a request that was received under section 131 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004," a spokesperson told AFL.com.au.
The nine does not include Essendon, which is already under investigation by the Victorian WorkCover Authority for its sports science program that resulted in a ban from last year's finals, fines, the suspension of coach James Hird, and more recently, show-cause notices from ASADA (Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority) to its players.
The new documentation lodged with VWA names Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong,Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda and the WesternBulldogs as 'relevant clubs'.
It's not clear where the complaint against the Victorian clubs has originated but it’s believed to be in relation to their 'sports science' practices as well.
"The Victorian WorkCover Authority can confirm it has received a request under section 131 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 to conduct an investigation into alleged risks to health and safety involving nine AFL clubs," VWA spokeswomen Kate Fawcett confirmed to AFL.com.au.
"The VWA is currently reviewing this request."
In October last year AFL.com.au revealed details of a survey of sports medicos and scientists, which showed many clubs lacked 'single point accountability' within their own sports science programs.
It is now up to the VWA to decide if it will launch an investigation.
The AFL said it had already cleared other clubs of any major issues with their sports science programs, referring to an audit conducted in the wake of the Essendon revelations.
"After the ACC report was released in early 2013, the AFL Commission met immediately on February 7 and determined that an audit would be held of all clubs in our competition," the AFL said in a statement Tuesday night.
"No club was found to be in breach of the AFL's rules and regulations as per the matters that saw Essendon investigated and then sanctioned in August 2013.
"The audit determined the AFL would make a number of changes to our rules and processes, and these changes were publicly notified to our clubs in October last year."
