Border construction blitz to target falls and psychosocial hazards
11 Apr 2024•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
WorkSafe Victoria and SafeWork NSW will inspect construction sites in Albury and Wodonga from 15 to 19 April, focusing on falls and work-related psychosocial hazards. A free trade breakfast on 12 April will help businesses prepare for the inspections.
The inspections form part of the Cross Border program, through which the two regulators are working together to reduce construction hazards. Inspectors will visit sites on both sides of the border to check employers’ awareness of their health and safety obligations.
Ahead of the blitz, the regulators will host a free Trade Breakfast at Dahlsens Albury Wodonga on Friday 12 April, from 7–9am. The event, at 58–98 Bennu Circuit, Lavington NSW 2640, will cover construction hazards and preparing worksites for inspection.
WorkSafe Director of Construction and Earth Resources Matt Wielgosz described proactive inspections as an important part of improving construction safety. He said there had been 16 construction fatalities since the start of the previous year, including six resulting from falls from height.
“We’ll be reminding employers of their obligations to do everything possible to reduce the risk of falls – such as working on the ground where possible, or using safety protection such as complete scaffolding, guard railing and void covers.”
Construction workers represented almost a third of Victorian workers with accepted injury claims involving falls from height: 489 of the 1,534 claims accepted by WorkSafe since January 2023. Over the same period, WorkSafe accepted 2,610 claims from seriously injured construction workers, including 54 in the Ovens Murray area.
Inspectors will also discuss employers’ obligations to address psychosocial hazards that could put health and safety at risk, including bullying and fatigue. SafeWork NSW Regional Director Construction Service Laurence Richey said the regulator had noticed an increase in workplace psychosocial hazards, including extreme workloads and bullying, and that reducing them was a major focus.
Mr Richey said business owners must identify and manage workplace risks that could cause psychological harm. He also said economic pressures, including inflation and supply chain disruption, had led many businesses to overlook workers’ health, safety and wellbeing, and warned against putting productivity or profit ahead of worker safety.
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