SafeWork NSW blitz focuses on safety around overhead and underground services

SafeWork NSW is carrying out a compliance program designed to ensure that companies in the construction and utilities fields are maintaining safety standards while working close to overhead and underground services.

The initiative will involve SafeWork NSW inspectors visiting high-risk worksites throughout the State, focusing on areas near utilities like live electrical, gas, water, and telecommunications infrastructure.

“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,” SafeWork NSW said.

“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.”

According to SafeWork, workplaces identified as failing to meet their responsibilities under work health and safety regulations could be subject to enforcement actions, which may involve the issuance of improvement, prohibition, and penalty notices.

More information is available here.