WorkSafe warns Victorian workplaces to prepare for destructive winds
22 Oct 2025•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
WorkSafe Victoria has urged employers, particularly those in construction, to secure sites as damaging winds develop across most of the state. Gusts could reach 130km/h in coastal areas west of Cape Otway.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for every Victorian forecast district, with widespread damaging winds and gusts of up to 100km/h expected from the morning. Destructive gusts of up to 130km/h were possible west of Cape Otway during the late morning and early afternoon.
Locations potentially affected include Horsham, Warrnambool, Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, Wangaratta, Traralgon and Bairnsdale.
WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin warned that employers should treat strong winds with the same care as other serious workplace risks. “When winds pick up, unsecured materials and unstable structures can collapse, crush or strike workers and members of the public,” Mr Jenkin said.
Mr Jenkin called on duty holders to activate their safety plans by securing sites, reinforcing temporary structures and scaffolding, and postponing outdoor or high-risk work until conditions eased. He said sites needed a clear strategy to prevent tools, materials and debris becoming airborne hazards.
Cranes were especially vulnerable to tipping over or suffering structural damage in severe weather, Mr Jenkin said. Where they could not operate safely within manufacturers’ wind ratings, he said they should be secured using anchoring systems.
Mr Jenkin pointed to a tower crane collapse at a Derrimut construction site in August during similar conditions. The collapse brought down power lines and caused extensive damage, but workers and members of the public avoided injury. WorkSafe is continuing to investigate the incident.
He said the collapse demonstrated the importance of following manufacturers’ instructions for crane stowage or configuration during high winds. WorkSafe also advised employers to consult the Bureau of Meteorology’s Severe Weather Warning for the latest information.
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