- Construction sites are allowed to reopen with strict Covid-protocols in place
- Sites were fined for not ensuring workers were complying with requirements
- Fines worth a total $40,000 were handed out
The New South Wales government has issued $40,000 worth of fines for construction sites in Marsden Park, Riverstone and Liverpool for breaching Covid requirements.
Following a two-week construction pause, sites were allowed to reopen conditional on following strict Covid requirements for both occupied and unoccupied sites.
“The NSW Government understands and appreciates the important role the construction sector plays to our State and we are doing everything we can to ensure it is able to keep operating while keeping communities safe,” said the Minister for Better Regulation, Kevin Anderson.
“SafeWork inspectors will be visiting sites, particularly in the identified LGAs that can only do construction work on unoccupied sites and must have vaccinated workers, to assist the industry in implementing controls which prevent transmission of COVID-19.”
Kevin Anderson, Minister for Better Regulation
Last week, fines were issued at three building sites.
Two $5,000 fines were given at a site in Marsden Park after it was found the operator did not ensure a worker from an identified local government area was vaccinated. Additionally, the site failed to have certain Covid protocols in place, such as QR codes.
A site in Riverstone was fined $10,000 after two workers from both Blacktown and Parramatta failed to met vaccination and testing requirements.
Another site, in Liverpool, received $20,000 in fines for not ensuring their workers were vaccinated or tested as per the rules. They were also penalised for not ensuring workers were wearing masks or scanning the QR code.
Mr Anderson concluded by emphasising the importance of all stakeholders in the industry working together to keep the community safe.
“While it is the site operator which must enforce the rules, I am urging tradies to support their workmates and the industry by signing in with the QR code, wearing face masks at all times, and in the identified LGAs getting vaccinated and doing the right thing at work by following the orders,” he said.
