NT WorkSafe remind businesses to be safe after workers caught on caught on 10-storey CBD roof without fall protection

NT WorkSafe is reminding construction companies of their obligation to safety after a supervisor and worker were caught on a 10-storey roof without fall protection.

NT construction companies are being reminded of their obligation to safety after a supervisor and worker were caught on a 10-storey roof without fall protection.

In a statement, NT WorkSafe said late last week the supervisor and worker were caught working on a roof in Darwin without fall protection.

The supervisor admitted to breaching safety requirements and enforcement action is underway.

The reminder is part of National Work Safe Month, with this week focusing on the risk of falls in workplaces.

Slips, trips and falls are the third most common mechanism of injury for Territory workers, accounting for more than 20 per cent of all serious injury claims in the Northern Territory during 2019-20.

This has resulted in a total of 1090 weeks of lost time to Territory industry.

This year WorkSafe inspectors have handed out 12 improvement notices, 12 prohibition notices and eight infringement notices to the construction industry for noncompliance issues with working at heights.

NT Work Health and Safety regulator Bill Esteves said last week’s incident was unacceptable and that the industry needed to be proactive with safety.

“Working on top of multiple storey buildings without fall prevention is inexcusable,“ Mr Esteves said.

“Statistically, the odds are against workers who take this type of shortcut, and sadly, the consequences are often devastating.

“Together we need to make sure we all return home safely, and this begins with calling out this type of irresponsible and illegal risk taking.”