SA inspectors target fall prevention safety

South Australia is joining workplace health and safety regulators across Australia to ensure workplaces have appropriate measures in place to prevent falls in the construction industry.

SafeWork SA will focus on the housing and small-scale commercial building sectors, sending inspectors to about 80 sites in February and March this year.

“Falls are the single biggest cause of workplace injury and deaths in the construction industry,” said Acting Industrial Relations Minister, Jane Lomax-Smith.

“In the past three years, there have been three deaths and 450 compensated injuries due to falls from height in South Australia’s construction sector. ”

Lomax-Smith has asked all building trades working at height to review their work procedures and, if necessary, introduce safer systems before the SafeWork inspectors visit.

“For the sake of those doing the job, their families and workmates, as well as your business, we urge employers and their staff to identify and control fall risks as soon as possible,” she said.

“Builders, plasterers, plumbers, electricians, roof tilers and workers in similar trades are all at risk of serious injury if fall prevention measures are not taken.”