Joint agency blitz targets high rise construction safety breaches

A two-day operation in June on the Gold Coast by ten local, state and federal government agencies found a significant number of work safety breaches at construction sites.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, the Electrical Safety Office and the Queensland Building and Construction Commission joined the City of Gold Coast, Australian Border Force and other agencies to audit 66 building sites, checking the licences and work of 379 people.

The Gold Coast is a hive of construction activity, with current building work valued at more than $10 billion, and another $5 billion in the pipeline.

This is the second time this year agencies have audited Gold Coast construction work. This time, the team identified issues including site access and egress, work at height, scaffold not used for its intended purpose, plant safety documentation, falling objects protection and first aid provision.

Infringement notices were issued for plumbing work issues, electrical safety protection notices and improvement notices were issued for electrical issues, four improvement notices and three prohibition notices were issued under work safety laws, 10 rectification notices were issued by the City of Gold Coast and 36 WorkCover reviews were carried out. Verbal advice to improve safety was given out more than 40 times, and follow-up investigations and interagency referrals are continuing.

Further information

To find out more about compliance with work health and safety laws on construction sites, visit worksafe.qld.gov.au.