From 15th to 19th April, there will be inspections of construction sites on either side of the border to ascertain employer adherence to health and safety requirements — with an emphasis on lessening the likelihood of falls and occupational psychological hazards. The ‘Bluesafe SWMS‘ and ‘Bluesafe WHS Management System’ are ideal tools for managing such risks effectively and showing regulatory compliance.
WorkSafe Victoria, in conjunction with SafeWork NSW, is set to host a free Trade Breakfast on Friday 12 April at Dahlsens Albury Wodonga. The event’s primary focus is discussing construction dangers and preparing worksites for the impending blitz.
Matt Wielgosz, WorkSafe Director of Construction and Earth Resources, emphasised the vital role of proactive inspections in enhancing the construction industry’s safety standards. Mentioning the unfortunate rise in construction-related casualties due to falls last year, he urged employers to use WHS management systems like Bluesafe consistently. Such systems provide safeguards like complete scaffolding, guard railing, and void covers that could significantly diminish the risk of workplace accidents.
Almost one-third of all Victorian injuries resulting from falls involved construction workers. From January 2023 onwards, a staggering total of 2,610 claims from construction industry workers seriously injured in their line of work were accepted by WorkSafe, 54 of which came from the Ovens Murray region.
This blitz will prompt inspectors to engage employers about the importance of managing psychological hazards that might pose health and safety threats, including bullying and exhaustion. Stressing the need for businesses to maintain mentally beneficial workplaces, SafeWork NSW Regional Director Construction Service Laurence Richey called attention to the increase in psychosocial risks at work, such as heavy workload and bullying.
He insisted that businesses must not disregard health, safety, or employee wellbeing because of economic pressures like inflation and supply chain problems. He further highlighted the importance of policies and work safety products like Bluesafe WHS Management Systems in detecting and managing workplace risks that could inflict psychological harm on their personnel.
Free Trade Breakfast Details
When: Friday, 12 April, 7—9am
Where: Dahlsens Albury Wodonga, 58 – 98 Bennu Circuit, Lavington NSW 2640
To prevent falls from height, employers are encouraged to employ the best measures from the five levels in the controls hierarchy by utilising tools such as Bluesafe’s SWMS. Similarly, preventing work-related mental injuries is possible when employers implement effective management systems like Bluesafe’s WHS solutions.
For more information about how to manage safety effectively, particularly if you’re operating near Victoria, please visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/cross-border. You can also reach them via media@worksafe.vic.gov.au or call 0438 786 968 for updates on related media releases. Always remember that safety first must always be the rule of thumb.
Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-04/trade-breakfast-serve-safety-tips-ahead-blitz