SafeWork’s investigators have been empowered by recent legislation covering worksite inspections. Photo: NSW Government.
The Minns Labor State Government says its recent move to empower SafeWork NSW is working, after a massive compliance blitz delivered a swath of non-compliance notices across the state.
More than 500 non-compliance notices have been issued across NSW after SafeWork became a standalone regulator under a new commissioner. SafeWork inspectors have also been given more power and protection with the introduction of bodycams.
Nearly 400 high-risk workplaces and industries have been targeted by unannounced inspections.
“The results speak for themselves,” Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said. ”With over 500 compliance notices issued during the largest blitz in a decade, we’re showing that we are serious about protecting workers across NSW.”
Of the 506 notices given for non-compliance, 435 were improvement notices, 61 were prohibition notices, and 10 were fines worth nearly $50,000.
“The hundreds of unannounced site visits reflect SafeWork NSW’s determination to be a visible regulator,” SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said.
The most common risks across worksites fined were unsafe work from heights and the unsafe operation of moving plant, vehicles and fixed machinery. This included lifts, cranes, scaffolding components, conveyors, amusement devices and forklifts.
From 1 to 4 July, hundreds of SafeWork staff performed unannounced checks across regional and metropolitan NSW to ensure employers were meeting their safety obligations.
Everywhere from construction sites, farms, manufacturers and nursing homes were inspected across the Illawara, Northern Rivers and the Orana region.
SafeWork has five regulatory priorities that pose the greatest risk to workers:
- Working from heights
- Psychosocial risks, including harassment
- Harm to workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector
- Injury from mobile plant, vehicles and fixed machinery
- Exposure to chemicals, including silica, asbestos and fumes from welding.
Workers, businesses, health and safety representatives and union delegates were engaged with during these inspections.
“There is zero tolerance for putting worker safety at risk,” Minister Cotsis said. ”The government, together with employers and unions, has an important role to play to better protect workers.”
Information for firms and employers on managing the risks of working from heights, mobile plant safety and the psychosocial risks in construction can be found on the SafeWork NSW website.
