Nearly $1 million in fines issued as SafeWork intensifies efforts to protect workers from falls

SafeWork NSW's year-long inspection blitz on falls from heights has reached its halfway mark, with fines amounting to nearly $1 million already issued.

The safety regulator launched the 'Working at Heights in Construction' campaign in response to an alarming rise in the number of severe injuries and fatalities caused by falls from heights, resulting in the loss of 17 lives between 2018 and 2022.

Since May last year, SafeWork inspectors have conducted inspections at 1,218 worksites, leading to the issuance of 1,499 Improvement Notices, 727 Prohibition Notices, and 352 Penalty Notices, totaling $972,000 in fines.

Head of SafeWork NSW Trent Curtin said, “As we pass the halfway point of SafeWork’s ‘Working at Heights in Construction’ compliance blitz it is important to note that falls from heights is still the number one cause of traumatic fatalities on NSW construction sites.”

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