SafeWork safety campaign focuses on construction sites on the Central Coast

SafeWork Safety Campaign Focuses on Construction Sites on the Central Coast

NSW Government has launched a safety campaign on the Central Coast, sending SafeWork inspectors to construction sites across the region to check compliance with work health and safety obligations. The initiative targets one of the industry's most persistent hazards: falls from heights.

Why Falls From Heights Remain a Top Priority

Falls from heights stay the leading cause of significant injuries reported on construction sites, and inspectors will focus heavily on this hazard during site visits.

NSW has recorded over 5,200 incidents involving falls from heights since 2021/2022, according to available data. Most frequent injury types include:

• Damage to ligaments, muscles and tendons
• Traumatic joint injuries

These figures highlight why height-related hazards remain a persistent risk for workers across NSW's construction industry, and why ongoing enforcement matters for community safety.

What Employers Need to Know About Compliance

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis stressed that employers must fully understand their duties under current legislation governing site conditions and worker protection.

"SafeWork inspectors take a zero-tolerance approach to workers' lives being placed at risk and will issue on-the-spot fines to enforce compliance," she said.

"All workers have the right to go to work and return home safely to their loved ones at the end of their workday."

Businesses operating on construction sites should review their construction safety plan and confirm existing policy documents reflect current compliance requirements before inspectors arrive. A robust safety policy, paired with clear procedures for handling hazardous work at height, gives site managers a stronger position when demonstrating due diligence.

Building a Culture of Site Safety

This Central Coast crackdown follows similar efforts in other NSW regions, including the Hunter, reflecting a broader statewide push toward stronger site oversight. Employers should treat these visits as opportunities to strengthen safety practices rather than simply avoid fines.

Practical steps site managers can take include:

• Reviewing fall protection equipment and procedures regularly
• Auditing electrical and other hazardous systems onsite
• Ensuring documentation aligns with current legislative obligations
• Communicating safety expectations clearly to all workers

SafetyDocs offers resources such as an Electrical Safety Audit Checklist for construction sites and industry-specific packages, including steel construction safety packages, to help businesses prepare for scrutiny of this kind. Explore our broader range of construction and civil works safety templates to support compliance across your projects.

Read more about SafeWork's broader initiative focused on construction site safety.