07:50 am, Wednesday 10 March, 2010

Workplace safety in Mid West construction sites will be scrutinised as WorkSafe is set to conduct a round of inspections in the area.

As part of its commitment to safety, WorkSafe inspectors will go to building sites along the coast from Jurien Bay to Kalbarri, including Geraldton.

According to WorkSafe chief inspector Chris Kirwin, the spotlight will be on scaffolding, electrical safety and manual handling of materials.

“We’re not sneaking up on anybody, we’re telling them what we’re looking for to have safety awareness training and safe work method statements and safety management plans,” he said.

“We’re going there with the full intention of looking at the compliance situation and we’re not shy about taking enforcement action by issuing notices when we do find breaches of the law.”

Mr Kirwin said the inspectors will have their hands full, since building approvals are up by 100 per cent in Geraldton.

“There’s a few construction of mines and things like schools are enjoying some federal funding at the moment, and there’s a lot of construction going on at schools, so yes we’ll be sending a gaggle of inspectors up there to start their inspection work.”

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