Four Victorian regulators carried out more than 120 inspections across Latrobe Valley work sites as part of last week’s Build Aware campaign.
Inspectors from Energy Safe Victoria (ESV), WorkSafe, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) visited sites across the Latrobe Valley between Monday, 30 May and Friday, 3 June.
The Build Aware campaign works to ensure the construction and demolition industries are meeting safety, environmental, building and plumbing compliance obligations with each agency focused on a specific area of safety.
During the week, ESV inspectors visited 15 sites, checking to see if excavators, mobile cranes and tipper trucks were being operated too close to overhead powerlines.
VBA’s authorised officers carried out 70 building and plumbing inspections and 12 plumbing audits. Top risks identified by the VBA included incorrect site signage, timber framing, roof cladding and fire separation.
WorkSafe inspectors visited 30 sites across the region with inspectors reminding employers about the risks associated with exposure to asbestos and crystalline silica, including the recent changes to the OHS regulations when working with materials containing crystalline silica.
EPA inspectors carried out nine inspections and found compliance on sites across Traralgon was generally good with only minor issues associated with the containment of waste, which were resolved once identified.
Over the past four years, Build Aware has targeted regional areas including Shepparton, Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Wodonga, Bendigo, Geelong and Warrnambool. Joint activities delivered by the regulators include industry trade breakfasts, joint inspections and educational presentations to local TAFE students.
As part of the week, representatives from WorkSafe and ESV presented to more than 160 carpentry, plumbing, electrical, engineering and civil construction students at TAFE Gippsland’s Morwell and Yallourn campus.
