Inspection program focuses on construction sites along NSW/ACT border

Sep 19th 2025 | Stephen Kariahe

Inspection program focuses on construction sites along NSW/ACT border

SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe ACT have partnered in a coordinated approach to improve work health and safety (WHS) on construction sites located along their shared border.

The short answer

Two regulators are running joint, unannounced inspections on construction sites either side of the NSW–ACT boundary between 16 and 18 September, with fall prevention and plant condition front of mind.

Who: SafeWork NSW inspectors alongside their ACT counterparts
When: 16 to 18 September
Where: Queanbeyan, Canberra and surrounding localities
Focus areas: falls from height, plant and equipment condition, WHS compliance
Enforcement tools: on-the-spot fines, prohibition notices, improvement notices

The two workplace safety regulators will perform surprise compliance inspections on building sites over a two-day initiative focused on confirming that safety requirements are fulfilled to keep workers safe at work.

It is expected that inspectors will visit construction sites in Queanbeyan, Canberra, and the adjacent areas between 16 and 18 September to verify that work health and safety compliance is prioritised in all business activities.

The purpose of this joint initiative is to guarantee a cohesive regulatory approach for businesses working in both NSW and ACT.

SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said inspectors will be traveling to worksites throughout the state to make sure businesses are taking proper measures to safeguard workers from falls.

“Those found doing the wrong thing are at risk of facing on-the-spot fines, prohibition notices and improvement notices,” she said.

“Your site, your standards - zero falls starts with zero tolerance.”

Why cross-border civil works attract extra safety scrutiny

Contractors delivering civil works around the Queanbeyan–Canberra corridor routinely shift plant, equipment and crews between two jurisdictions inside a single fortnight. Duplicated paperwork, inconsistent inductions and mismatched risk controls often follow.

Harmonised visits give operators one clear benchmark. Whether a crew pours a slab near Queanbeyan or grades a road corridor in Canberra, expectations around guarding, documented risk assessments and equipment condition stay identical.

Many civil contractors also tender for Territory infrastructure works, so documentation must reflect the tasks actually underway rather than mirror a generic template.

What inspectors typically examine on site

Field officers concentrate on hazards that kill and maim: falls from height, mobile plant interactions, unguarded machinery and poorly maintained equipment. Below sit the practical areas most likely to draw safety questions during a surprise visit.

Fall prevention and height safety equipment

Scaffold handover records, edge protection, penetration covers and harness systems all come under review. Anchor points plus personal fall arrest equipment need inspection, tagging and task-specific selection — not storage in a ute tray.

Plant, machinery and equipment maintenance

Excavators, elevating work platforms and concrete pumps require current service records, competent operators and daily pre-start inspections. Missing logbooks signal a wider risk management gap to any visiting officer. Documented systems such as our excavation program and concrete pump program show how maintenance evidence should sit beside operational controls.

Electrical leads and portable equipment

Extension leads, safety switches (RCDs) and portable equipment must be tested and tagged in accordance with AS/NZS 3760. Damaged plugs, bypassed protection devices and untagged tools remain frequent findings whenever officers arrive without notice.

Compliance expectations for contractors trading both sides

Each regulator applies the model WHS laws published by Safe Work Australia, so core safety duties align closely. Readiness comes down to systems that travel with the crew, the equipment and the paperwork.

Current SWMS for every high-risk construction activity, signed by whoever performs the task
Site-specific assessments reviewed whenever conditions, sequencing or site activities change
Plant and equipment registers holding service, inspection plus repair history
Evidence of operator licences, verification of competency and induction records
Emergency arrangements, first aid provisions and rescue equipment for elevated tasks
Toolbox talk notes covering daily activities plus hazard controls

Preparing before an unannounced visit

Walk your project boundary with fresh eyes. Confirm exclusion zones remain enforced, verify guarding is fitted where required, then check that hired equipment arrived with valid inspection paperwork.

Safety leadership shows up in small details, and a structured walkthrough helps enormously. Our construction site inspection checklist mirrors what regulators ask on arrival, while our construction management plans bundle aligns documentation, equipment controls and safe work method statements for civil construction plus commercial works.

Inspection program focuses on construction sites along NSW/ACT border