Construction safety blitz focuses on unsafe concreting practices

Over the next three months, SafeWork NSW inspectors will be conducting a construction safety blitz targeting unsafe concreting practices.

Minister for Fair Trading Eleni Petinos said an estimated 360,000 people work in the construction industry in New South Wales.

Ms Petinos said, “inspectors will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to lives being placed at risk from formwork and concrete placing equipment activities.’’

“Falls from heights is the leading cause of fatalities on NSW construction sites, with falls from formwork being among the top five causes of serious falls reported to SafeWork,” Ms Petinos said.

“An example was in May last year when two workers suffered fractured ribs at a Westmead construction site when an unsupported formwork platform collapsed, causing them to fall over three metres.

“When it comes to concrete placing equipment, the major risks are workers being hit by the hose or concrete, or the boom hitting a structure or powerlines.”

Original source is SafeWork NSW.