Residential construction sites issued $11,000 in fines
Residential construction sites have been put on notice after a string of WorkSafe ACT inspections resulted in multiple notices and over $11,000 in fines.
10 sites in Taylor were visited by WorkSafe inspectors earlier this month, who issued 23 improvement notices, four prohibition notices, and four infringement notices for non-compliance.
The inspections were part of the larger Operation Safe Prospect, a continued WorkSafe ACT campaign to improve safety among residential construction sites.
Work Health and Safety Commissioner Jacqueline Agius has told the industry to raise standards or face consequences.
“This level of non-compliance with work health and safety is just not good enough. The industry has been on notice since February 2020, and we have given them plenty of warning that we will issue notices and fines to anyone who disregards safety standards.
“In September and October (to date) we have visited residential construction sites in Watson, Ginninderry and now Taylor and issued almost 100 notices due of safety issues in these locations.
“We continue to see the same issues at residential construction sites across the territory, including scaffolding safety and risk of falls from heights, site security, poor housekeeping and a lack of basic facilities like toilets for workers.
“It’s time for the residential construction industry to lift its game and improve health and safety standards for all workers, so they can go home safely at the end of their shift.”
WorkSafe ACT has stated that they will continue compliance inspections across Canberra.
