As 2024 comes to a close, Australia’s construction and building industry is being urged to nail down safety and finish the year without any more tragic headlines.
With looming deadlines and the rush to wrap up projects before the holidays, the end of the calendar year can often bring heightened risks for those working in construction and other industries.
From 2021 to 2023, the last two months of the year saw 40 work-related deaths across all sectors and more than 12,750 injury claims accepted by WorkSafe.
Meanwhile, this year, four workers have already lost their lives since the start of November, casting a shadow over the festive season for their families and coworkers.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin, warned that the frantic end-of-year push was no time for those working in Australia’s construction, building or manufacturing industries to cut corners or take risks.
“For many workplaces, the approaching end-of-year can be a frantic time, and the drive to complete projects or meet customer demand can unfortunately mean safety is not always at the forefront of people’s minds,” Mr Jenkin said.
“There is no end-of-year deadline, order fulfilment, or customer demand that is worth the risk of a debilitating injury and not getting to spend the holiday season with the ones you love.”
Construction sites will be in safety officer’s spotlights as the year comes to a close – with dedicated inspectors ensuring builders and contractors aren’t demolishing critical safety practices in a bid to meet deadlines.
From dodgy scaffolds to poorly secured worksites, officers will focus is on making sure projects are safely shut down over the holidays to prevent risks to the public.
The risks don’t end with the new year either, with many sectors returning to work with skeleton crews before operations ramp up again post-holidays.
In the past three years, January alone has seen 13 work-related deaths.
Mr Jenkin also stressed the importance of proper training and induction for all workers, especially those starting new roles in 2025.
“It’s important that all workers, including those who may be experiencing their first job, are adequately trained to perform tasks safely, are properly inducted and supervised and understand their right to a safe workplace,” he said.
