SafeWork NSW issues 14 notices in Wilton and Wollondilly site checks

Inspectors visited residential, civil, commercial and infrastructure construction sites on Thursday 11 June. The operation focused on falls from height, mobile plant and psychosocial concerns, with inspectors checking whether workers were separated from earthmoving equipment, vehicles and other plant wherever possible.

The visits resulted in nine improvement notices and five prohibition notices. Inspectors also completed 40 verification checklists covering falls from height, mobile plant and psychosocial concerns. Although many sites were meeting their obligations, the checks identified risks associated with poor job planning, insufficient site supervision and inadequate protective measures, including edge protection for work at height.

Falls from height and mobile plant are among the most common causes of serious injury or death on construction sites. In the preceding 12 months, the construction industry reported more than 2,229 workplace incidents to SafeWork NSW, including 13 fatalities.

Before the inspections, SafeWork NSW hosted a Builders Breakfast and Toolbox Talk at Wilton with 80 participants from industries including residential, commercial and civil construction. The event was open to trades, site supervisors and others undertaking construction work in the Wilton and Wollondilly area. Inspectors discussed key harms identified in the regulator’s Regulatory Approach and Regulatory Priorities for 2025–26.

The discussion also covered women’s role in construction and maintaining safe workplaces that support them. Inspectors made psychosocial risk management a priority, speaking with workers, businesses and Health and Safety Representatives about psychological health and safety practices and providing advice and resources. Psychosocial hazards can include harassment, bullying, work pressure, exposure to traumatic events, violence and hazardous physical working environments.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis attended the event and spoke with businesses and workers alongside inspectors about their duties and obligations to maintain safe workplaces. Eligible attendees could apply for the $1,000 SafeWork NSW Small Business Rebate for safety improvements, including platform ladders and edge protection equipment.

SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer described construction as one of NSW’s highest-risk industries, with too many workers killed or injured on construction sites each year. She welcomed the turnout of trades, site supervisors and construction experts at the 11 June event, while noting that the inspection results showed further work was needed despite many businesses doing the right thing.

Schorer said the events and proactive action were critical to helping workers return home safely at the end of the day. SafeWork NSW’s website provides further information on managing work-at-height risks, mobile plant safety and psychosocial risks in construction.

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