Ballina nursing home cited in state safety blitz

A BALLINA nursing home was among nearly 400 workplaces inspected during SafeWork NSW’s largest compliance blitz in a decade, which resulted in more than 500 notices being issued across the state.

Hundreds of inspectors carried out unannounced checks between July 1 and July 4, visiting high-risk workplaces including construction sites, farms, manufacturers and care facilities.

The operation was SafeWork NSW’s first major enforcement campaign since becoming a standalone regulator under commissioner Janet Schorer.

Inspectors issued 506 notices, including 435 improvement notices, 61 prohibition notices and 10 fines totalling almost $50,000.

Unsafe work from heights and the operation of moving plant, vehicles and machinery were the most common hazards, with 192 notices for height safety breaches and 285 for machinery and equipment risks.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said the results showed the government was serious about protecting workers.

“The results speak for themselves,” Cotsis said.

“With over 500 compliance notices issued during the largest blitz in a decade, we’re showing that we are serious about protecting workers across NSW.

“There is zero-tolerance for putting worker safety at risk. The government, together with employers and unions, have an important role to play to better protect workers.”

Schorer said the scale of the operation reflected SafeWork NSW’s commitment to maintaining a strong presence on worksites.

“The hundreds of unannounced site visits reflect SafeWork NSW’s determination to be a visible regulator,” Schorer said.

“However, there is still more work to do to ensure workers are not placed in potentially hazardous situations.