An audit of scaffolding on Canberra construction sites has uncovered serious issues of non-compliance, including a lack of protection from potentially deadly falls.
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The WorkSafe ACT audit found just one out of five scaffolds on commercial sites were fully compliant with access opening requirements.
Almost half the 21 residential sites inspected recorded issues with design, including construction on uneven ground, large gaps on platforms and incorrectly installed stairs and ladders.
The audit of 26 sites resulted in three prohibition notices, meaning work was halted until issues were fixed, and three since-cancelled improvement notices. All notices related to residential work sites.
Total compliance levels ranged from 58 per cent to 89 per cent.
The WorkSafe ACT audit, held between March and May, was initiated after four significant falls were recorded on work sites in 2016.
A further 476 claims for workers compensation relating to falls from heights have been lodged in the ACT since 2014.
Work Safety Commissioner Greg Jones said it was troubling so few commercial sites passed inspection on scaffold access requirements.
Inspectors noted protection from vehicle collision was lacking or needed to be upgraded. Other issues were in relation to the span over the opening not including additional support and the span over the opening failing to be spurred.
"Falls from a height can cause catastrophic injury to workers and it is important that scaffolding on every site is not only installed correctly but regularly checked and maintained," Mr Jones said.
"There have been more than 470 claims for workers compensation lodged in the ACT relating to falls from heights since 2014 and a number of significant incidents have been investigated by WorkSafe ACT.
"Sadly, many of these incidents could have been prevented. We all have a role to play in keeping workers safe, and scaffolding needs to remain a key priority."
Master Builders ACT chief executive Michael Hopkins welcomed the report.
"The audit results are a timely reminder to everyone working in the construction industry that safety, especially when working at heights, must remain a focus," he said.
"These findings are a warning to any business operating in the ACT that cutting corners on safety to make a commercial advantage will not be tolerated.
"Master Builders ACT and our members will work cooperatively with WorkSafe ACT to review the findings, and implement any learnings from the audit, so that safety in the ACT is continually improved."
The report said WorkSafe ACT would take an educative approach to fixing the identified issues via safety newsletters, regular updates on the Access Canberra website and during ongoing inspections.
The "enhanced engagement and education program" will focus on entry and exit, platforms and edge protection and base design and use, each of which recorded a non-compliance rates of about 40 per cent.
"As a priority, WorkSafe ACT will discuss with the Australian Skills Quality Authority and Registered Training Organisations on enhancing the safety risks emphasised in training for the High Risk Work Licence," the report said.
