SafeWork NSW has kicked off a new safety campaign targeting the scaffolding industry following the success of a targeted compliance blitz last year.
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, Kevin Anderson launched operation ScaffSafe 2.0, warning construction workers of the dangers of unsafe scaffolds.
“Far too often we see different trades remove a small part of the scaffold to make it easier to do their work, without understanding what they are doing to the integrity of the structure, and that’s how accidents can happen,” Mr Anderson said.
“Our message for principal contractors is to make sure there is adequate supervision, consultation and communication on site,” he said.
“By doing so they can easily address the risks associated with scaffolds and we can avoid unnecessary accident or injury.”
Mr Anderson said that last year SafeWork NSW inspectors issued more than 1,300 notices related to scaffolds across the State, including 131 on-the-spot fines totalling $432,720.
“Inspectors can issue on-the-spot fines of $3,600 for businesses and $720 for individuals if they discover workers are at serious or imminent risk of falls from heights, or if unlicenced workers erect, alter or dismantle a scaffold,” he said.
Mr Anderson said the campaign also encouraged workers to report unsafe behaviour with scaffolds via the SafeWork mobile tool, ‘Speak Up. Save Lives’.
