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Canberra Today 12°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

WorkSafe slams construction sites with fines

Commissioner Jacqueline Agius. Photo: Holly Treadaway

WORK health and safety commissioner Jacqueline Agius said the construction industry needs to lift its game after four infringement notices were issued in Taylor yesterday (October 13). 

Each infringement notice was worth more than $11,000, according to WorkSafe ACT.

The fines were handed out after WorkSafe ACT inspectors visited 10 residential construction sites in Taylor, where they also issued 23 improvement notices and four prohibition notices.

Ms Agius said: “This level of non-compliance with work health and safety is just not good enough. The industry has been on notice since February 2020, and we have given them plenty of warning that we will issue notices and fines to anyone who disregards safety standards.

“In September and October (to date) we have visited residential construction sites in Watson, Ginninderry and now Taylor and issued almost 100 notices due of safety issues in these locations.

“We continue to see the same issues at residential construction sites across the territory, including scaffolding safety and risk of falls from heights, site security, poor housekeeping and a lack of basic facilities like toilets for workers.

“It’s time for the residential construction industry to lift it’s game and improve health and safety standards for all workers, so they can go home safely at the end of their shift.”

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