Victorian builders failing working at height test

02 June 2008

A campaign targeting fall prevention in the construction industry has found greater efforts are needed to reduce the high rate of fatalities and serious injuries.

WorkSafe Victoria’s Executive Director John Merritt said the project, run during February and March, was a litmus test for local builders in the housing and small commercial building sectors.

“In visits to 185 Victorian building sites, inspectors issued 37 Prohibition Notices[i] and 26 Improvement Notices[ii].

“Another 88 fall prevention issues were rectified while inspectors were present.

“What worries me is that on 13 occasions, they saw situations so dangerous that they ordered work to immediately stop.

“It’s extremely concerning that almost 60% of the 185 sites visited required our inspectors to take compliance action to get them up to standard,” WorkSafe’s Executive Director, John Merritt, said. 

While a general requirement to provide and maintain a safe workplace has been in place since 1985 and construction-specific regulations for working at height have been in place for several years, both are frequently flouted.

Mr Merritt said roof workers and carpenters were the most likely trades to be at risk of a fall.

 “Everybody working in construction knows the industry can be dangerous, especially when working at height.

“Builders and subcontractors are well aware of the safety measures required for basic fall prevention, therefore there is no excuse for not providing and maintain them”.

“Last financial year 13 Australian construction workers died after falling from height, four of those were in Victoria. Also, more than 620 workers are hospitalised each year in Australia due to falls.

“Builders must plan their work and ensure safety equipment appropriate to the job is provided, used and maintained in a serviceable condition.

“WorkSafe expects all builders and sub-contractors to comply with the health and safety requirements for falls prevention. Our inspectors will enforce these requirements” Mr Merritt added.