WorkSafe ACT has conducted two safety compliance ‘blitzes’ on the residential construction sector in response to two tragic deaths on work sites earlier this year.
ACT Work Safety Commissioner, Greg Jones said that while compliance had improved slightly from the first blitz in January, there was still a long way to go.
“In this second series of inspections, WorkSafe inspectors completed 84 site visits and issued a total of 128 notices – this includes 54 prohibition notices and several infringement notices,” Mr Jones said.
He said inspectors were still seeing concerning issues with working from heights; unsafe scaffolding; electrical issues; no safety planning through Safe Work Method Statements and potential slips, trips and falls.
“These are the same issues we see time and again, and it is clear that many builders and contractors in this sector do not consider the safety of their workers as important,” Mr Jones said.
“I think this attitude is completely unacceptable and I can assure all operators in the residential construction sector that WorkSafe will be holding them to account.”
He said that over a six-week period, WorkSafe ACT had made more than 112 inspections with a total of almost 200 notices issued and 70 sites shut down due to imminent safety risks to workers.
“We will continue to focus on the residential construction sector as we want everyone to be safe at work,” Mr Jones said.
“The residential construction industry needs to lift their game and ensure that safety standards are in place to protect their workers,” he said.
“If any worker is concerned about what they have been asked to do or they consider that safety standards are not being met then they should contact WorkSafe, anonymously if necessary, and we will follow up any concerns.”
