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Thursday 07 August 2008

Twenty breaches in two days

WORKSAFE Victoria says a two-day campaign targeting construction sites in South Yarra has revealed 20 safety breaches in 16 unit developments.

Inspectors visited the 16 sites and issued three Prohibition Notices for unsafe temporary electrical boards and power leads. 17 Improvement Notices were issued for inadequate fall protection, unsafe formwork for concreting, electrical issues and safety plans.

According to the authority, it conducted the campaign because there was a boom in construction activity in the area.

It found some sites had good practices on paper, but these were not being applied on the ground. It has warned principal contractors and sub-contractors about their responsibilities to engage in safe working practices.

Of the 11 work-related deaths reported to WorkSafe this year, three have been in construction.

Although notices are the primary enforcement tool used by safety authorities, the path is always open for prosecution if there is potential for harm of it notices are not complied with.

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