Safety screens have been installed at the counters inside a McDonald's store on Adelaide's nightclub strip, following repeated incidents of abuse towards workers.
SafeWork SA ordered the installation of transparent screens at the McDonald's on Hindley Street to create a physical barrier between customers and workers, following recent reports of violence and abuse towards staff.
The new measures were introduced following a complaint made to SafeWork SA by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) on behalf of the store's workers.
A video posted to social media in December showed a 19-year-old woman walking behind the counter of the Hindley Street McDonald's, yelling at staff and touching food.
The woman was later charged with property damage and assault, with police alleging she also damaged a door and threw a bottle of water at staff.
It followed another video which circulated on social media in October showing an 18-year-old woman being removed from the store after allegedly spitting at a staff member behind the front counter.
SDA Secretary Josh Peak said it was the first McDonald's restaurant in South Australia to be forced to install protective shields.
"McDonald's Hindley Street is a hotbed for violence and abuse and it's great to see SafeWork SA act to keep workers safe," he said.
"Workers are now fully protected behind perspex and glass screens, and so customers can no longer throw products, they can't spit on workers, they can't jump over the counter and they're no longer able to access the kitchen."
Mr Peak said it should not have taken an intervention by the union and SafeWork SA for the fast-food outlet to take action.
He said the site formerly had security guards but they were removed, and that steps were needed to "ensure the safety of [the store's] employees and introduce proper security measures".
Mr Peak said the union would be writing to McDonald's requesting a full risk assessment to be carried out in each South Australian store.
In a statement, SafeWork SA said it has been working with the licensee of the McDonald's following the reported incidents in October and December.
SafeWork SA said it had issued improvement notices to the McDonald's to ensure "a range of safety improvements are implemented".
"Like all workers, fast-food staff have the right to carry out their jobs without the threat of violence and abuse," SafeWork SA's acting executive director Glenn Farrell said.
"This is also an important opportunity to point out that customers also have a duty under WHS [Work Health and Safety] laws to not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons at the workplace and may face legal action if they fail to comply."
SafeWork SA said it had also issued written warnings to the two customers allegedly involved in the October and December incidents.
In a statement, McDonald's Australia said it reviewed "restaurant protection measures on an ongoing basis", and that the safety of staff and customers was its "top priority".
"McDonald's has introduced security screens at the Hindley Street restaurant to improve the safety and protection of our people," a spokesperson said.
"We have a zero tolerance policy for anti-social behaviour and expect our people to be treated with respect and decency at all times."
