WorkSafe ACT inspectors visit construction sites, issue 83 improvement notices

WorkSafe ACT inspectors visiting construction sites in Taylor have issued 83 improvement notices after a worker fatality on 8 December, marking one of the territory's largest safety enforcement operations in recent years. Six inspector teams covered 47 residential construction sites, identifying widespread breaches in fall prevention, housekeeping, electrical testing and COVID-19 compliance.

Overview of the Taylor Construction Site Inspections

Following the death of a worker connected to the residential construction sector, WorkSafe deployed six inspector teams across the Taylor suburb to assess safety standards at active building sites. The blitz forms part of a broader push to lift compliance across Canberra's rapidly growing residential construction zones.

Initial findings from the operation confirmed 83 improvement notices and 11 prohibition notices were issued, with two sites shut down entirely. WorkSafe stated affected sites will need thorough cleaning and securing before work can recommence, reinforcing that non-compliant conditions pose ongoing risk to workers and the public.

Key Work Health and Safety Issues Identified

Inspectors flagged several recurring health and safety concerns across the inspected sites, including:

• Failure to manage falls from heights
• Poor housekeeping practices increasing slip, trip and fall risk
• Lack of electrical safety testing and tagging of tools and equipment
• Absent COVID-19 safety plans and missing QR codes for check-ins

These gaps highlight a broader pattern of weak safety management at residential builds, where electrical hazards, uncontrolled asbestos risk and inadequate housekeeping often compound one another. Sites lacking basic electrical compliance measures are also more prone to secondary hazards, since faulty wiring or untested equipment can trigger fires or contribute to structural failures near asbestos-containing materials.

Regulator Response and Commissioner Comments

Work Health and Safety Commissioner Jacqueline Agius said she was very disappointed with the results of the inspection program.

"Given the recent fatality of a worker connected to this industry, I'm extremely disappointed to see there has not been an improvement of standards at residential construction sites in this suburb," Agius said.

"As part of Operation Safe Prospect, we will continue to visit Greenfield suburbs and take enforcement action when we find safety breaches."

Why Consistent Safety Management Matters on Residential Builds

Effective safety management underpins every stage of residential construction, from site setup through to handover. Without a robust management system covering fall protection, electrical safety and asbestos controls, builders leave crews exposed to preventable harm.

Strong management practices also support ongoing compliance with health and safety obligations under work health and safety laws, reducing the likelihood of prohibition notices or forced shutdowns. Businesses that embed proactive management into daily operations tend to face fewer enforcement issues and maintain steadier project timelines.

Site supervisors should treat every improvement notice as a prompt to review broader management systems rather than a one-off compliance issue. A single notice often signals gaps in management oversight that extend across multiple work areas, including electrical safety, asbestos handling and general housekeeping standards.

Strengthening OHS Practices Across Greenfield Suburbs

Operation Safe Prospect signals ongoing scrutiny of OHS standards across Canberra's Greenfield development areas. WorkSafe has confirmed it will continue visiting these suburbs and taking enforcement action wherever safety breaches are identified.

Builders operating in these zones should review their construction safety management plans and ensure OHS documentation, including safe work method statements for construction sites, reflects current site conditions. Proactive OHS reviews, rather than reactive fixes after a notice is issued, remain the most reliable path to sustained compliance.

For related coverage on regulatory activity affecting builders, see our reports on the inspection program focusing on construction sites along the NSW/ACT border and the WorkSafe inspection blitz targeting fall hazards in construction sites.

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