NSW spearheads national construction campaign

A campaign targeting the safety of mobile equipment in the construction industry will start next week throughout Australia and New Zealand.

NSW Minister for Commerce, John Della Bosca said the NSW government was spearheading the campaign that involved the cooperation of Australia's mainland states and New Zealand.

"While NSW workplace injuries and fatalities are at their lowest levels in 18 years, incidents involving moving plant remain one of the top three causes of fatalities in the construction industry," Della Bosca said.

"High-risk construction sites, commercial and housing estate developments and associated road works will be targeted in the two-month international campaign."

This will see workplace safety inspectors visit more than 600 sites, half of which will be in NSW.

Della Bosca used the launch of the preventative campaign as an opportunity to criticise the Commonwealth's Comcare system.

"Comcare's handful of staff are authorised to enter workplaces to investigate only after an accident," he said.

WorkCover inspectors will focus on safety risks in and around work sites, including safe work systems, public safety, access and egress and impact barriers.

"Special attention will be paid to the use of heavy mobile plant, such as bulldozers and bitumen trucks, in night roadworks," Della Bosca said.

Printed material distributed will include the code of practice, Moving Plant on Construction Sites, and information on the requirements for traffic control.

Safety information, including codes of practice, is available from WorkCover at www.workcover.nsw.gov.au.