A union official and the CFMEU have been accused of hindering a workplace safety inspector during a dispute at a building site in regional Victoria.
Fair Work Building and Construction says it is taking Alex Tadic and the union to the Federal Court over Mr Tadic's alleged refusal to comply with the directions of a WorkSafe Victoria inspector during a dispute in June 2014.
It's understood Mr Tadic did not comply with inspector's directions not to comment or ask questions until the safety inspection, which had been requested by the union, was complete.
Mr Tadic became "rude, angry and aggressive" when the inspector refused to shut down the site, where a new police station is being built in Castlemaine, FWBC says.
It says Mr Tadic began behaving aggressively, repeatedly swore at the inspector, asked if the inspector was in the "back pocket" of the builder and threatening to contact the inspector's boss.
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The conduct had an adverse effect on the inspector's ability to carry out a site inspection, FWBC alleged.
FWBC director Nigel Hadgkiss said workplace health and safety inspectors must be able to work free of hindrances and aggression from anyone, including union officials.
"Unfortunately, we see many examples of people misusing safety as a means of pursuing other agendas," he said.
"It is also noteworthy that FWBC would not have been able to get this matter to court without the use of the agency's compulsory powers."
The CFMEU has been contacted for a response.
