SafeWork NSW inspectors are out and about in the Illawarra region conducting a blitz over three days to ensure safety standards at local building sites are being upheld.
Inspectors are out in force focusing on a number of high-risk factors associated with construction sites, including electrical safety, falls from heights, moving plant, structural safety and dust diseases.
SafeWork inspectors are taking a zero-tolerance approach to serious safety risks and a number of notices, including prohibition and $3,600 penalty notices have already been issued in relation to falls and electrical issues.
There have also been other notices for poor housekeeping practices on sites, and inspectors are following up to ensure all sites have appropriate incident notification systems in place.
Building activity in the Illawarra region has been at record levels in the past few years as a result of people moving away from Sydney and settling into life in the regions.
SafeWork is committed to driving industry to ensure that all workers make it home safe at the end of their shift.
Earlier this year, SafeWork conducted a similar blitz in the region where inspectors issued nine fines and 73 improvement notices for safety issues such as lack of protection around voids and dry cutting of silica containing material.
Information on how to reduce and eliminate construction-related hazards is available on the SafeWork NSW Building and construction industry page.
SafeWork NSW Regional Director Construction Services Laurence Richey said:
“The recent history of the construction sector in Wollongong has featured tragic workplace incidents, along with sanctions against builders for unsafe and defective building work.
“Serious injury or death are never an acceptable part of the job and SafeWork is committed to ensuring builders are doing everything in their power to make sure neither of those are occur on their worksite.”
