SafeWork NSW is conducting a compliance program focused on ensuring businesses in the construction and utilities industries are working safely near overhead and underground services.
As part of the program, SafeWork NSW inspectors are visiting high-risk workplaces across the State near utilities such as live electrical, gas, water and telecommunications assets.
Working near overhead powerlines and underground services remains a significant safety risk across the construction and utilities industries, especially when using equipment such as excavators, elevated work platforms and front-end loaders.
Contact with overhead powerlines and underground services can cause death or serious injury such as electrocution or serious burns.
They can also cause explosions, flooding and major service outages, which are hugely disruptive to the community.
The damage to these utilities is also costly to repair and has the potential for extensive delays to projects.
Inspectors will be checking duty holders understand their responsibility to identify hazards, implement risk controls for the work to be undertaken and provide workers with well-understood exclusion zones and safe distances.
Businesses found to be non-compliant with their duties under work health and safety law may face enforcement action such as the issuing of improvement, prohibition and penalty notices.
Inspectors will also be engaging with workers, businesses, health and safety representatives and union delegates during these visits.
This includes providing advice and resources to manage the risks when working around overhead and underground services.
Workers who have concerns about workplace health and safety can anonymously contact SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website.
Business owners and workers can access a range of resources to help manage the risks of working from around overhead and underground services on the SafeWork NSW website.
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer said:
“These site visits aim to drive compliance, strengthen supervision and ensure every person on site understands the critical steps needed to work safely around essential infrastructure.”
“By lifting awareness and enforcing best practice, SafeWork NSW can help to prevent life‑changing injuries and help create safer worksites.
“Businesses and duty holders must take a ‘know what’s above and below before you start work’ approach when working with or around overhead and underground services.”
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