WA WorkSafe to examine construction safety

Three WorkSafe inspectors will conduct around 50 inspections in the Mid-West area of Western Australia, including Geraldton and surrounding areas, for a week from 8 June.

Chris Kirwin, WorkSafe Director of Construction, Regional and Primary Industries, said the campaign aims to improve construction safety standards in the region: “Campaigns like these aim to raise awareness of hazards in the targeted industries and also to remind those involved of their responsibilities in minimising the risk of injury.

“Inspectors will be taking a general look at construction sites, but there will be some specific areas on which they will concentrate: checking that workers on construction sites have undergone the compulsory Construction Safety Awareness Training and hold current and valid blue cards, and that Safe Work Method Statements are in place for high-risk construction work.

“Inspectors will also be taking a close look at scaffolding — edge protection in particular — and paying close attention to WorkSafe priority areas including electrical safety and safe work at heights.

“The campaign follows a similar campaign in the area a year ago that resulted in positive feedback from WorkSafe inspectors, but it did demonstrate that areas such as scaffolding, electrical safety and work at heights were still of concern.

“The inspectors who conducted the previous campaign reported that the safety standards of construction workers in the region had improved since their last visit and were generally of a high standard. I’m confident that we will find that safety standards are even higher this time around.

“The inspectors will also take the opportunity to encourage small construction businesses to take advantage of the ThinkSafe Small Business Assistance Program, which offers businesses with fewer than 20 employees a free three-hour assessment by an independent safety and health consultant.

“The program of regional inspection campaigns is all about increasing awareness of workplace safety in the regions, but inspectors will not hesitate to issue notices where they discover breaches of the laws.”