2023 snapshot - Building and Construction WHS Blueprint to 2026

Falls regulatory priority

Falls is our number one regulatory priority. We aim to reduce the incidence of falls from heights in construction.

Compliance programs completed

Compliance programs targeted key harms in the construction sector.

Work at Heights Safety

• 1167 sites inspected, with 2505 notices and $920,880 in fines issued
• areas for improvement include:
  • use higher order controls e.g., edge protection, scaffolds, void covers
  • ensure scaffolds are complete; altered by licensed workers
  • ensure the SWMS is adequate and followed.
• high compliance in fall prevention was found
• 65% of industry is using the highest form of control in the hierarchy i.e., fall prevention devices (scaffold or roof edge protection) over fall arrest systems (harnesses).

Falls in Manufacturing and Warehousing

• 450 sites inspected, with 520 notices and $14,400 in fines issued
• areas for improvement include:
  • provide fall protection e.g. platform ladders to access racks/shelving; adequate handrails on mezzanine levels
  • prevent falling objects e.g. racking is secured; stored items do not exceed load limits
  • provide safe access/egress to mezzanines; safety gates are fitted at loading points.

Falls from Heights in Transport

• 64 sites inspected, with 25 notices issued
• areas for improvement include:
  • check workers have the appropriate licences
  • ensure fatigue is managed and a fatigue management policy and/or procedure is in place
  • worker supervision and orientation of new workers
  • traffic control and ensuring safe zones for drivers

Raising awareness and campaigns

Results:

• a 600% increase in visits to our working at heights web page
• 10.4 million impressions from social media campaigns
• 260% increase in downloads of our working at heights resources
• 695k impressions from CALD ads, which outperformed expectations
• 193 downloads of safe solar installation SafetyCast
• 1.5k views of, and 396 attendees at the falls in construction webinar.

Building and Construction Blueprint outcomes

Our actions enabled us to:

• deliver compliance programs focused on upholding industry standards
• build communities of safe work practice through collaboration with industry
• equip PCBUs and workers with knowledge and skills to maintain a safe and healthy work environment.

Compliance programs completed

Safety Around Earthmoving Plant (2022 - 23)

• 191 sites inspected, with 83 notices and $14,400 in fines issued
• areas for improvement include:
  • prevent falls into trenches from the edges, by backfilling the excavation or using fall protection such as barriers
  • regularly assess ground conditions
  • check competency of plant operators.

Safety Around Moving Plant and Vehicles

• 212 sites inspected, with 111 notices and $22,320 in fines issued
• areas for improvement include:
  • implement higher order controls to manage vehicles/traffic e.g., automated barriers or traffic signals.

Electrical Safety

• 269 sites inspected, with 401 notices and $41,472 in fines issued
• areas for improvement include:
  • ensure safe working distance from underground and overhead power
  • use adequate safety signage on distribution boards
  • supervise apprentices.

Silica Safety

• 94 sites inspected, with 96 notices issued
• areas for improvement include:
  • develop adequate and site-specific use of SWMS
  • fit test workers for respirators
  • ensure tilers and labourers stop dust at the source, e.g. wet cut, dust extraction.

Working with industry to improve health and safety

Construction inspectors handled 14,260 safety matters, including requests for service, incident responses and proactive site visits.
Requests for service increased by 20%.

Awareness and education

Communicating and engaging with stakeholders

Results:

• over 160 events and presentations delivered (including sponsored events with NECA, HIA and MBA)
• 11 industry e-newsletters to over 2000 subscribers
• 4293 downloads of the Pocket Guide to Construction Safety
• 2310 SafetyCasts downloads, including 529 downloads of the Women in Construction SafetyCast
• 4.2 million Safety compliance social media reach
• 93% of attendees rated the site supervisor workshops as 4.5 out of 5 stars.
• over 430 attendees to the silica industry webinar
• published the new silica toolbox talk.

Strategic approach

To uphold industry safety standards and achieve our building and construction blueprint outcomes we adopted a strategic approach in 2023.

To identify high-risk PCBUs, we created a watchlist of over 100 potential high-risk PCBUs from Class 1 and Class 2 building sectors.

We prioritised the highest risk harms outlined in the Construction Blueprint, which was launched in July 2023.

We released the High Risk Workplace Strategy 2023 to target workplaces that continually do the wrong things with greater scrutiny.

Workers compensation compliance

227 referrals from construction inspector to the State Insurance Regulatory Authority, resulting in:

• $116 million in additional wages declared^*
• $3.3 million in additional premiums calculated^*
• 53% increase in referrals^*

^* some matters still under investigation and figures may increase.

Educating young workers through collaboration with TAFE NSW and Universities.

Download the 2023 snapshot for the Building and Construction WHS Blueprint to 2026.