Safety authorities have conducted a sweep of construction sites in northern Sydney and the Sutherland shire.

It found that more than 20 percent of sites had working at heights risks while two thirds required intervention on unsafe practices.

SafeWork Executive Director, Tony Williams, said that as part of last month’s blitz 23 SafeWork inspectors had visited 98 construction sites from Neutral Bay to Ryde and issued 115 notices and five fines relating to unsafe workplaces at 69 sites.

“If we go to the other side of the city our inspectors went to 67 sites, issued 158 notices and 11 fines relating to unsafe work practices and putting workers at risks, especially in relation to working at heights,” Mr Williams said.

“Falls from heights are the number one killer on NSW construction sites and most people who are seriously injured or killed fall from a height of four metres or less.

“In May an apprentice carpenter fell three metres while installing roof trusses in Moama, while this month another man fell from a second-story roof in Woodcroft. Both were airlifted to hospital with suspected spinal injuries.

“To have 33 notices and three fines worth $3,600 each issued in relation to fall safety in across northern Sydney is alarming. But when we look at Sutherland there were 65 notices issued relating to heights and falls risks it shows that even the most simple safety practices – like protecting people from an edge – are being ignored.

“Other notices and fines were issued for electrical hazards, incomplete or altered scaffolding, inadequate site security as well as safety management,” Mr Williams said.

Ongoing construction blitzes by SafeWork have been occurring right across both metropolitan and regional NSW in 2021, including in the Illawarra, the North Coast, and Riverina as well as across Sydney.

“Sooner or later SafeWork will be in your area and I’m urging you to take action in order to remove these risks – not just because you are facing fines but so that everyone on your site goes home safely at the end of the day,” Mr Williams said.

“If you’re the Director or Manager of a building company or the site supervisor you need to make safety the number one priority on your sites.  What SafeWork is continuing to see is that these individuals are not doing their job and there needs to be improvement.

On-the-spot fines of $3,600 for corporations and $720 for individuals can be issued to businesses who place workers' lives at risk through inadequate protection from falls from heights.