Regulators inspect construction sites across Mildura during five-day blitz

Three Victorian regulators have carried out 120 inspections across Mildura construction sites, educating workers and identifying safety risks as part of the Build Aware campaign.

Energy Safe Victoria, Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and WorkSafe visited sites between Monday, 22 May and Friday 26 May, to ensure industry was meeting safety, environmental and building obligations.

Build Aware allows regulators to collaborate, sharing resources, knowledge and information to ensure compliance standards are met and communities are kept safe.

Energy Safe inspectors found most sites to be compliant. However, inspectors are currently carrying out further enquiries in relation to potential safety breaches at a solar farm. Inspectors focused on basic safety, electrical licence checks and ensuring heavy machinery remained clear of powerlines.

WorkSafe identified issues surrounding the safety of elevated work platforms, working at height and housekeeping and spoke with a number of employers to ensure safe systems of work were in place to control trenching risks. Inspectors issued five improvement notices and called out a further four safety issues that were fixed on the spot.

VBA found issues surrounding timber and steel structure framing, gutter and downpipe installations and the installation of multilayer piping.

Representatives from the three agencies also visited SuniTAFE Mildura throughout the week, educating the next generation of construction workers.

Build Aware has visited Shepparton, Bairnsdale, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Warrnambool in recent years. For more information go to Victorian Building Authority(opens in a new window), WorkSafe Victoria(opens in a new window) and Energy Safe Victoria(opens in a new window).

Energy Safe CEO Leanne Hughson

“The week gave us the opportunity to inspect work sites across Mildura and we were pleased to find that most of the worksites were compliant. We also got to educate workers on a range of electrical safety issues, while continuing to inspect potential safety breaches at a solar farm.”

 “Our inspectors were also able to talk directly to the next generation of tradies at SuniTAFE Mildura, instilling important safety messages they can carry through their respective careers.”

Attributable to WorkSafe Director Construction and Earth Resources Matt Wielgosz

“It’s been encouraging to see many duty holders taking their health and safety obligations seriously, but there is room for improvement.”

“WorkSafe inspectors will continue to engage with employers and workers in the construction industry to ensure their knowledge is up-to-date and remind them that safety should always come first.”

Media Contacts

For ESV Adrian Bernecich 0437 729 194 | adrian.bernecich@energysafe.vic.gov.au
For VBA Clayton Bennett 0417 854 245| media@vba.vic.gov.au
For WorkSafe media line 0438 786 968 | media@worksafe.vic.gov.au