Border construction blitz targets falls and psychosocial hazards

The regulators will host the Trade Breakfast at Dahlsens Albury Wodonga on Friday 12 April, from 7–9am. The event will take place at 58–98 Bennu Circuit, Lavington NSW 2640, with discussion covering construction hazards and preparing worksites for inspections.

WorkSafe Director of Construction and Earth Resources Matt Wielgosz described proactive inspections as an important way to improve construction safety. He said 16 construction fatalities had occurred since the start of the previous year, including six resulting from falls from height.

"Construction workers go to work each day thinking 'I won't fall, I know what I'm doing', but the fact is construction workers are falling and dying or suffering serious injuries right here in Victoria."

Mr Wielgosz said inspectors would remind employers of their obligations to do everything possible to reduce fall risks. He identified working at ground level where possible, complete scaffolding, guard railing and void covers as measures to reduce those risks.

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 highlighted employers’ and business owners’ role in supporting mentally healthy workplaces.

"SafeWork NSW has noticed an increased number of psychosocial hazards in the workplace, such as extreme workload and bullying, and reducing these numbers is a major focus for us as a regulator," Mr Richey said.

Mr Richey said businesses must identify and manage workplace risks that could cause psychological harm to employees. He said economic pressures, including inflation and supply chain disruption, had led many businesses to overlook worker health, safety and wellbeing, and that productivity or profit must not take priority over worker safety.

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