Construction Safety Analysis in a Snapshot

WorkSafe ACT Compliance & Enforcement Snapshots continues to show a clear pattern that construction continues to receive the highest level of regulatory attention compared with other industries.

Over the past six reporting months, the following constructionspecific activity was recorded:

Workplace Visits & Notices Issued

• Workplace visits to construction across Aug2025 → Jan2026 ranged from 72 to 100 per month, before easing to 54 in Jan2026
• Improvement notices fluctuated significantly, peaking at 65 in Dec2025, then falling to 27 in Jan2026.
• Prohibition notices (where industry breakdown was available) declined from 32 in Sep/Oct2025 to 19 in Jan2026.

Key Compliance Themes

WorkSafe ACT’s enforcement focus remained consistent, with the following hazards repeatedly driving notices:

• Falls from heights – breaches of s79(2) were the most frequent infringement category.
• Scaffold safety – repeated issues relating to s225(5) scaffold compliance.
• Highrisk construction work SWMS – multiple notices issued under s299 and s300 for inadequate or noncompliant SWMS.
• Silica controls & mandatory training – recurring s418D (1)/s418BAA notices linked to crystalline silica risks.

SixMonth Performance Overview

Our analysis of Aug2025 → Jan2026 identifies the following trends:

• 25% decrease in construction site visits from Aug2025 to Jan2026 (72 → 54).
  This reflects a shift from the spring compliance blitz toward steady baseline inspection activity.
• Improvement notices decreased 6.9% across the same period (29 → 27), but December saw a sharp temporary surge (65).
• Prohibition notices dropped approx. 40% between September and January (32 → 19), suggesting improved site control or targeted inspector focus.

What Members Should Prioritise This Month

1. Reaudit all height work
   Edge protection, temporary guard rails, platform integrity, and ladder use must strictly comply with s79(2). Also refer to the relevant Codes of Practice for Falls from Height.
   → Falls from height remain the number one enforcement driver.
2. Review all scaffolding against s225(5)
   Particularly at handover, after weather events, and following any structural adjustment.
   → Scaffolding compliance was repeatedly cited across September – January.
3. Strengthen SWMS discipline
   Ensure SWMS are taskspecific, uptodate, and signed by workers each time highrisk work commences. Have an active review and monitoring process.
   → SWMS breaches are among the most common improvementnotice categories.
4. Maintain silica controls & training
   ACT continues to enforce crystalline silica controls heavily — ensure workers have current and WorkSafe ACT accepted training S418(D) VET Course compliant training.
5. Update notifiableincident protocols
   All supervisors must be aware of the amended WHS Act requirements introduced in Nov2025.
   → Sexual assault and suicide incidents are now a notifiable incident requiring immediate escalation.

MBA Scaffold Checklist will be available on eDocs from next week.

For questions about your work, health and safety obligations, contact the Workplace Relations Team:

📞 (02) 6175 5900
📧 workplace@mba.org.au