26 September 2023

SafeWork out to nail dodgy builders

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SafeWork officers are to visit building sites across Sydney and throughout regional NSW in an effort to promote safe practices in the building industry.

Acting Executive Director for Compliance and Dispute Resolution at SafeWork NSW, Meagan McCool said the agency was making a proactive step towards eliminating unsafe work on ladders, roofs and scaffold on building sites in an effort to protect tradies and construction workers better across the State.

“Falling from heights is the number one killer on NSW construction sites,” Ms McCool said.

“Any accident on a construction site is one too many and a death or serious injury can have a huge impact on a person’s family and community, which is why we are committed to driving the number of falls from heights incidents right down,” she said.

Ms McCool said SafeWork officers would be on the ground all over the State to ensure safe working conditions and that lives were not put at risk when working at heights.

She said officers from SafeWork NSW had the power to issue on-the-spot fines of up to $720 for individuals and $3,600 for businesses who failed to manage working risks at heights to appropriately.

Ms McCool said SafeWork would also conduct COVID safety checks where penalties applied.

She said there was a range of ways businesses could ensure their workers’ safety and encouraged small businesses to take advantage of SafeWork’s free online safety workshops for supervisors, $500 small business safety rebate, and to access the many safety podcasts, checklists and toolbox talks that could help make safety simple and compliance easy.

Further information about SafeWork can be accessed at this PS News link.

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