Unsafe construction sites throughout Sydney

Electrical Shock While Forming Concrete Slab

A worker suffered an electrical shock while preparing to form up a concrete slab located next to an existing structure. This incident highlights ongoing electrical safety hazards on construction sites across Australia.

Investigation into the incident remains underway; however, initial enquiries indicate a sledgehammer was being used to drive a star picket into the ground to support wooden framework. The star picket appears to have made contact with an energised electrical cable located underground, giving the worker an electrical shock.

Findings from the May 2021 incident have yet to be confirmed as investigations continue. This type of electrical risk demonstrates why identifying underground services before starting groundwork remains a critical safety practice for any crew using an electrical safety audit checklist for construction sites.

More on this safety issue can be found on the WorkSafe QLD website.

Unsafe Construction Sites Throughout Sydney

Summary: A recent SafeWork NSW safety blitz found 69 out of 98 unsafe construction sites throughout Sydney had working-at-heights risks or unsafe practices, resulting in 115 notices and five fines during June.

Unsafe construction sites throughout Sydney were exposed after SafeWork NSW completed a safety blitz across northern Sydney and the Sutherland shire. Out of 98 sites visited, 69 showed working-at-heights risks and unsafe practices, raising serious concerns for workers and site managers alike.

Twenty-three SafeWork inspectors visited construction sites and issued 115 notices and five fines relating to unsafe workplaces during June. These figures point to a persistent gap between documented safety obligations and what happens on the ground.

Key Findings From the Safety Blitz

• 33 notices and three fines worth $3,600 each were issued in relation to fall safety across northern Sydney.
• 65 notices were issued in Sutherland relating to heights and falls hazards.
• Even simple safety measures, such as protecting workers from an edge, were being ignored on many sites.

SafeWork Executive Director, Tony Williams, said the number of notices and fines issued in relation to fall safety across northern Sydney is alarming. He noted that when looking at Sutherland, where 65 notices were issued relating to heights and falls hazards, it demonstrates that even the most basic safety practices are being disregarded.

Businesses that place workers' lives at risk through inadequate fall protection can incur on-the-spot fines of $3,600 for corporations and $720 for individuals. These penalties reflect how seriously SafeWork NSW treats working-at-heights hazards on active sites.

Why Construction Site Safety Matters

Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of serious injury within the construction sector, alongside electrical hazards like the incident detailed above. Builders and site supervisors carry legal obligations under work health and safety laws to identify hazards, assess risk, and implement suitable controls before work begins.

Maintaining proper edge protection, scaffolding equipment, and fall-arrest equipment isn't just a legal requirement — it's fundamental to protecting the health and wellbeing of every person on site. Sites that fail to manage these hazards put both workers and passing members of the public at unnecessary risk.

For builders looking to strengthen on-site compliance, reviewing documentation such as a Construction Sites – Dealing with the Public SWMS or a Security Guard – Construction SWMS can help formalise safe practices around site access, hazard control, and public protection.

Businesses managing multiple contractors should also consider strategies outlined in our guide to managing contractors on construction sites, which covers essential OHS strategies for reducing risk across a busy site.

This isn't an isolated finding. SafeWork blitzes in other regions have uncovered similar issues — see our coverage of the safety blitz targeting unsafe construction sites in the Illawarra region and the safety blitz targeting construction sites in Wollondilly for further context on statewide enforcement trends.

Builders and principal contractors seeking tailored management plans can explore our construction management plans, or browse broader resources within our construction and civil works safety templates collection to support compliant, well-documented site practices.

Original article found on the SafeWork NSW website.