Energy Safe Victoria logo

Victorian regulators take 2023 Build Aware campaign to Mildura

Thursday 18 May 2023 1:14am

Victorian regulators will visit Mildura next week as part of the second leg of their 2023 Build Aware campaign, ensuring construction workers are meeting safety, environmental and building regulations.

Energy Safe Victoria, WorkSafe and Victorian Building Authority (VBA) will visit the region, inspecting worksites and calling out safety breaches in the state’s north-west during the five-day blitz.

The initiative will run between Monday, 22 and Friday, 26 May, targeting building and plumbing compliance issues with a focus on electrical safety, bushfire building regulations and safe trenching practices.

Representatives from the three agencies will also visit Sunraysia Institute of TAFE to educate the next generation of construction workers.

Build Aware allows regulators to collaborate, sharing resources, knowledge and information to ensure compliance standards are met and communities are kept safe.

Energy Safe will target electrical safety, reminding workers that electrical work must be carried out by licensed electrical workers. It will also enforce No Go Zones, which describe minimum safe distances for workers to operate from powerlines.

WorkSafe will focus on raising awareness of employers’ obligations around trenching safety controls and the consequences of unsafe trenching practices.

In recent years, the Build Aware campaign has included stops in Shepparton, Wodonga, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Warrnambool. The regulators visited the Bass Coast Shire Council area in late February and early March.

For more information go to Victorian Building AuthorityExternal Link , Worksafe VictoriaExternal Link and Energy Safe VictoriaExternal Link .

Energy Safe CEO Leanne Hughson

“Unfortunately, we continue to see examples of construction workers either overlooking, forgetting or are just being unware of basic safety procedures aimed at protecting them from electrocution and electric shocks.”

“During the week we’ll inspect a range of sites enforcing a range of safety requirements. Build Aware also gives us the great opportunity to meet with trade students, highlighting these important lessons early in their careers.”

WorkSafe Director of Construction and Earth Resources Matt Wielgosz

“We’re reminding employers of the potentially deadly risks trenching presents without appropriate control measures in place.”

“Incorrect use of shields, lack of benching or battering, and inadequate fall protection all put workers at risk of death or serious injury.”

Media Contacts

For ESVAdrian Bernecich 0437 729 194 | adrian.bernecich@energysafe.vic.gov.au
For VBA Clayton Bennett 0417 854 245| media@vba.vic.gov.au
For WorkSafe media line 0438 786 968 | media@worksafe.vic.gov.au

Reviewed 18 May 2023

Was this page helpful?