WORKSAFE Victoria says it is targeting domestic construction sites in Melbourne’s west from 8 December.
This will be the first of a series of state-wide campaign visits to target basic safety issues, like fall protection, electrical safety, housekeeping, site security and supervision.
According to WorkSafe Victoria, there is currently a lot of work going on which has to be completed before the long Christmas break or to meet contractual requirements. The busy environment could exacerbate existing risks.
Inspectors will be issuing safety improvement and prohibition notices during this campaign. These can lead to prosecution if the safety issues are not dealt with.
There were 425 claims in the domestic construction sector last financial year with treatment and rehabilitation costs exceeding/ nearly $5.5 million.
The number of claims and associated costs means employers in this sector pay on average 1.908% of their total remuneration compared with the state average of 1.338% for all employers.
The absence of fall protection on a domestic housing site is a feature of WorkSafe’s current enforcement campaign showing workers on the roof of a house.