In the latest edition of the Safety Soapbox: Construction and Utilities industry newsletter WorkSafe reports that in March alone the Victorian construction industry has reported 249 notifiable incidents to the Regulator, with 364 workers suffering injuries severe enough to make a workers’ compensation claim.
The majority of the reported injuries involved young men aged 20-24 years old, working in full-time employment for small employers. Reported injuries included wounds and lacerations, fractures and traumatic tendon, muscle and ligament injuries.
The newsletter includes links to information about what a notifiable incident is, as well as a list of all reported construction incidents from March. The nature of the reported incidents is addressed in the newsletter with guidance and links on relevant safety topics.
Fall prevention – Construction’s number one cause of fatalities is falling from height. Visit the High Standards page to access site safety resources, including 30-second videos demonstrating various control measures used to prevent falls, and to register for the Falls Basics workshop which is free for small to medium construction businesses.
Falling Objects – During May, WorkSafe Inspectors will be out targeting risks associated with dropped objects on building sites. Falling (or dropped) objects remain a leading cause of injury in the construction industry and can also result in injuries to the public. Learn more about falling objects at the Falling objects | WorkSafe Victoria page.
Construction Pocket Guide - a practical, easy-to-use resource to support safer work practices, including guidance on common health and safety issues on site and an overview of employer and self-employed obligations under Victorian occupational health and safety laws. Digital versions of the guide are available in English, Arabic and both simplified and traditional Chinese – they can be found at The pocket guide for construction safety (PDF version) | WorkSafe Victoria page. Alternatively, hard copies of the guide can be ordered in English and in simplified Chinese by emailing your contact details, number of copies and delivery address to [email protected].
Asbestos Registers - A reminder that duty holders must maintain and provide asbestos registers in workplaces that contain asbestos. In recent months, WorkSafe inspectors have observed employees from different workplaces unknowingly disturbing and spreading friable asbestos. The friable asbestos had also been spread into public spaces. Several employees were unaware that asbestos was present because the employer failed to provide and maintain an asbestos register.
WorkSafe provides new and updated information and guidance for employers on managing asbestos in their workplace.
- Safety Alert: Asbestos Registers
- Updated Asbestos in Soil guidance
- New Asbestos in Soil process management flowchart
Read more: Archive | Safety Soapbox - WorkSafe Victoria