Second scaffolding safety blitz for NSW

Construction sites across NSW will undergo a new scaffolding safety blitz, after a recent round of inspections saw more than 800 notices issued for significant safety breaches. The Minister for Better Regulation, Kevin Anderson, has urged the industry to improve its standards or risk heavy fines, after SafeWork NSW inspectors found missing scaffold parts, unlicensed workers and substandard safety measures for those working from heights. Anderson said that three people have died and 25 have been seriously injured this year after falling from a height.

“Over the first three-month blitz SafeWork inspectors issued 26 penalty notices, 232 prohibition notices and 580 improvement notices, 500 of which were for risks associated with falling from heights. We will not tolerate poor safety and workers’ lives being placed at risk on our worksites. From today we are kicking off a new three-month blitz, focusing on these risks,” Anderson said.

Anderson said the notices were only the first step in the process, with non-compliant businesses facing heavy fines or up to five years’ jail time.

“Everyone should feel safe doing their job. If you spot anything risky, play your part in protecting your own safety as well as that of your workmates by immediately reporting it to SafeWork via the Speak Up app,” Anderson said.

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