With construction continuing to work within the current government restrictions and guidelines, SafeWork NSW would like to remind businesses that the same risks continue to exist and need to be managed.

Unfortunately there have recently been a number of construction related incidents related to falls from heights which will significantly impact on the individual and their families, highlighting the need for continued vigilance during these turbulent times.

SafeWork NSW inspectors will continue, whilst applying strict infection control practices, to be visiting construction sites across NSW the state.

In particular, scaffold safety continues to be an issue and puts lives at risk when not managed correctly. Our inspectors, as part of Scaff Safe 2020, will build on last year’s scaffold compliance campaign, to help improve industry standards when it comes to scaffold safety.

Remember, when it comes to scaffold safety, construction sites should ensure:

• they are only erected, dismantled or altered by people with the correct scaffolding high risk work licence
• they are built to Australian Standards
• they are not missing components
• the scaffold remains compliant throughout the construction project.

For those that continue to flout safety laws and put workers lives at risk, fines of up to $3,600 for businesses and $720 for workers can, and will be, issued.

Further information on scaffold safety and the findings from last year’s campaign can be found on the SafeWork NSW website.