Calls for reform after “shocking” sites deemed safe by SafeWork NSW

Building industry figures are calling for reform after the safety regulator said sites where a 2 tonne beam fell on a skyscraper and a teen was left with broken vertebrae were cleared “over the phone”.

Broken vertebrae, legs, fingers amputated and in one shocking incident a man was “degloved” – these are the injuries on worksites in NSW concerned building industry figures say are being swept under the rug by SafeWork.

The safety regular, tasked with keeping the state’s builders in check, is itself racking up a rap sheet of not attending some of the worst onsite incidents and giving them the all clear over the phone.

The Sunday Telegraph has been provided images and been told of at least seven incidents in the past six months where a major injury has been sustained by a worker and SafeWork NSW did not attend.

One of the more shocking incidents involved a 15-year-old apprentice who was left with two broken vertebrae after a brick fell on him at a job in Parramatta on March 11.

A 2 tonne beam which fell at from a crane at a skyscraper on Smith and Phillip St, Parramatta last November barely missed workers.

The damage done when it landed on another beam. Sources said WorkSafe gave this site approval to continue working over the phone.

SafeWork reportedly let work continue and only came to the site three days later.

Last November industry sources said inspectors again cleared the site of a skyscraper in Parramatta over the phone after a tower crane dropped a two tonne beam eight metres, high above the city and barely missing workers.

A worker electrocuted in the CBD on March 9 and a tradie whose leg was broken in Parramatta onsite on October 29 last year were among other examples provided where SafeWork reportedly did not turn up.

Images have also been provided which show an excavator falling into scaffolding at Minto on October 30, leaving it almost toppling over.

A site in Minto last October where a excavator hit scaffolding and WorkSafe said the site was fine to continue over the phone.

Building industry sources said that site too was given the all clear over the phone by SafeWork.

On September 11, 2020 another crane tipped, dropping an excavator and again inspectors did not show up, deeming the site safe over the phone.

A man died on a site in Liverpool last month and in February loveable tradie Max Haywood lost his life after a tragic incident at his worksite in Rozelle.

“These latest incidents continue a shocking pattern in the way SafeWork NSW operates its reporting hotline,” CFMEU NSW secretary Darren Greenfield said.

The crane which fell into a hole while carrying an excavator.

And from another angle. Workers said no one from SafeWork attended the site after the incident.

“SafeWork NSW appears to have abandoned its role as a serious safety regulator. Safety cannot be regulated from a call centre, and the only way that builders and subcontractors are held to account and safety improves is when inspectors are on the ground enforcing the law.”

Mr Greenfield said the union also had examples where fingers were amputated on site and one worker suffered a “degloving” incident that were also cleared over the phone.

All of the incidents, their dates and specific details were put to SafeWork who declined to answer why the sites had been approved as safe for construction to continue over the phone without someone visiting the site.

Wharf worker Max Haywood, 55, who passed away after a horror workplace accident earlier this year.

“SafeWork NSW most commonly undertakes an investigation under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in response to workplace incidents resulting in the serious or fatal injury of workers, but will also examine dangerous occurrences, serious safety risks or work-related illnesses,” a spokesman said.

“Inspectors undertake an intensive 12-month Diploma of Government (Workplace Inspections) with specialist training in the triage of notified events, including response categorisation based on life threatening incidents and targeted or focus areas for SafeWork.

“As part of any response SafeWork will take appropriate action to address any immediate or ongoing safety concerns.

“Details of any incidents notified to SafeWork are triaged against the national framework to determine the most appropriate and proportionate response, which may include an inspector visit, an administrative response, or even no further action if incident details are incomplete or out of jurisdiction.”