The week-long visit, from May 27 until May 31, will see inspectors from the Victorian Building Authority, Energy Safe Victoria, WorkSafe and the Environment Protection Authority attend worksites across the region to provide information about laws and regulations that protect the community, the practitioner and the environment.
They will be undertaking joint inspections, hosting a talk with a local TAFE to speak to apprentices and will also be hosting an industry trade breakfast for local tradies.
Throughout the week, the VBA will undertake inspections around bushfire attack levels, fire ratings, waterproofing standards for building and roofing, and gas fitting compliance in plumbing.
“Our Shepparton event will focus on known harms to consumers, with particular attention on bushfire assessment levels and fire ratings,” VBA commissioner and chief executive Anna Cronin said.
Energy Safe will be ensuring workers comply with gas, solar power and electricity safety laws, with a key focus being responsibilities around overhead power lines and underground cables.
“We’ll be ensuring workers are safeguarding themselves, their colleagues and the community, especially around live electrical assets,” Energy Safe chief executive Leanne Hughson said.
WorkSafe’s activities will centre around mobile plant and elevated work platforms, for both operator and workers on the ground.
“We’ll be visiting worksites to highlight the common safety issues around mobile plant, while also asking employers to check their systems of work and ensure there are risk control measures such as safety observers and secondary guarding in place to keep everyone on site safe,” WorkSafe director of construction and earth resources Matt Wielogsz said.
EPA will be noting the importance of the General Environmental Duty during its visit, as well as noise obligations and environmental laws as they apply to the construction and demolition industry.
“EPA is looking for typical building site pollution that can cause offsite impacts like contaminated stormwater, sediment, dust, packaging waste and newcomers like polystyrene scraps from the waffle pods used when laying concrete,” EPA regional manager north-east region Ben Kneebone said.
“We also want to make sure workers on construction sites are aware of their obligations; for example, prohibited noise types and times.”
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