SafeWork SA campaign aims to address unsafe practices in construction work

SafeWork SA is launching a targeted enforcement drive from 1 July, focusing on construction businesses with poor injury claim histories to lift safety standards across the industry. This SafeWork SA campaign forms part of a broader push to reduce workplace harm in one of Australia's most hazardous sectors.

What Does the SafeWork SA Campaign Cover?

The extensive campaign will target medium and large construction enterprises, labour hire firms, and Group Training Organisations (GTOs). SafeWork SA has launched this initiative to address unsafe practices that continue to put employees at risk across worksites statewide.

Construction ranks as Australia's second largest industry, encompassing three significant sectors:

• Building Construction
• Construction Services
• Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Each of these segments carries distinct risk profiles, from electrical hazards on commercial sites to falls from height during civil works, making tailored compliance oversight essential.

Who Is Being Targeted?

The joint effort alongside ReturnToWorkSA will concentrate on 20 organisations reporting elevated injury claims, including private companies, GTOs, and labour hire agencies. SafeWork SA partnered with ReturnToWorkSA to ensure businesses with recurring incidents receive closer scrutiny and practical support toward improved compliance.

How Will Compliance Be Assessed?

SafeWork inspectors will assess worksites and carry out desktop audits to review injury data and verify adherence to workplace health and safety laws. This dual approach combines on-ground inspection with data analysis, helping identify hazardous conditions before they cause harm.

Inspectors will pay close attention to:

• Fall prevention measures at height, given the industry's persistent risk exposure
• Electrical safety controls around plant and temporary power systems
• General hazards linked to plant operation and site housekeeping
• Overall risk management systems and documented safety procedures

For businesses reviewing their own systems ahead of an inspection, our High-Risk Construction Work Policy offers a practical starting point for strengthening compliance documentation.

Why Construction Safety Remains a Priority

Data from Safe Work Australia indicates that construction recorded the second highest fatality rate in 2023, surpassed only by transport, postal, and warehousing sectors. Falls from height and electrical incidents remain among the leading causes of serious injury across the industry, reinforcing why this major awareness campaign matters.

Plant-related hazards also feature prominently in injury statistics, with mobile plant and lifting equipment frequently implicated in serious incidents. Addressing these risks requires consistent health and safety oversight, not just reactive compliance checks after an injury occurs.

Readers wanting further background on related enforcement action can review our coverage of the SafeWork campaign aimed at preventing fall from height injuries in construction settings.

Building a Safer Construction Workplace

Reducing unsafe practices demands more than periodic audits — it calls for embedded risk management culture across every level of an organisation. Employers should review documented procedures covering plant operation, electrical safety, and fall prevention at height regularly, rather than waiting for a SafeWork visit to prompt action.

Our article on unsafe work practices to avoid outlines common pitfalls that contribute to preventable injury across construction sites, offering practical guidance for businesses aiming to strengthen their safety posture.

Organisations managing specific construction activities can also benefit from tailored documentation, such as our Steel Construction SWMS, or resources covering broader project oversight through our Construction Management Plans.

More information on the campaign can be accessed here.