Coast building site blitz uncovers major issues

A blitz of Gold Coast construction sites has uncovered dozens of serious offences amid fears buildings are “plagued with defects” which expose owners to serious risk.

QBCC officers arrive to perform an inspection.

A BLITZ of Gold Coast construction sites has uncovered dozens of building offences in a second major compliance audit this year.

The two-day multi-agency investigation into building sites across the Glitter Strip has uncovered major violations including an unsupervised, unlicensed 17-year-old performing electrical work.

Multiple state and federal government agencies including the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) and Australian Border force swept a total of 66 worksites at Robina, Bilinga, Palm Beach, Mermaid Beach, Southport, Chevron Island, Runaway Bay, Labrador, Arundel and Surfers Paradise last week.

More than 379 people were reviewed in the process.

QBCC Commissioner Brett Bassett said the use of an unlicensed minor could have had tragic consequences.

“This was a potentially lethal activity, and the employer responsible for that person now faces disciplinary and enforcement action from the Electrical Safety Office and disciplinary action from the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s Quality Training Team.”

BUILDING SHUTDOWN LOOMING OVER CLADDING ‘INSURANCE CRISIS’

A meeting of agency staff involved in the raids.

QBCC PROBES ATTACK ON ITS WEBSITE AS THOUSANDS CLAMOUR TO REGISTER

He said the incident was a sad reminder of the tragic electrocution of 20-year-old Jason Garrels at a Clermont worksite in 2012, after nine days on the job.

“There are no ifs or buts with safety — and to put this unqualified young worker in a position where he was risking his life, and the lives of others, is inexcusable,” Mr Bassett said.

“If this company cannot meet its obligations to keep its workers safe, what confidence can a property owner have that work being done in their homes will be up to scratch?

“These audits shine a spotlight on non-compliant and unsafe practices in our industry, so that we can help to protect homeowners and anyone working on Queensland construction sites.

“This multi-agency approach helps to ensure there are many eyes and ears on the ground to share relevant information now and into the future, to help identify and prevent dangerous and non-compliant work.

“This new approach to old issues like unlicensed and illegal building work is already proving to be an effective tool for identifying offences and taking appropriate enforcement action.”

The audit follows a warning from the Strata Community Association that thousands of Australians could be living in or own apartments and units that are “plagued with defects”, and pose a serious risk to personal safety.

The blitz uncovered the following:

● 14 apprentices interviewed onsite with 1 referral to the Electrical Safety Office for noncompliance and an audit of the employer by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training regarding unsupervised apprentices

● 2 x Infringement Notices issued to a builder for a breach of section 119 of the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 (person not holding the appropriate licence)

● 1 x Infringement Notice issued to a plumber for a breach of section 120 of the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 (a licensed person directing or supervising unlicensed work)

● Ongoing inquiries into 4 persons identified as performing regulated plumbing and drainage work

● 5 x Electrical Safety Protection Notices issued under the Electrical Safety Act

● 10 x Improvement Notices issued under the Electrical Safety Act

● 4 Counts of verbal direction / advice issued under the Electrical Safety Act

● 4 Improvement notices issued under the Work Health Safety Act

● 3 Prohibition notices issued under the Work Health Safety Act

● 10 Rectification Notices (issued by City of Gold Coast)

● 36 WorkCover reviews

● Education provided on 42 occasions

● A number of ongoing activities, including further warnings to be issued, follow-up investigations, and inter-agency referrals.