Victorian regulators will bring the 2022 Build Aware campaign to Ballarat next week, working to ensure construction workers are meeting safety, environmental, building and plumbing compliance obligations.
The Victorian Building Authority (VBA), Energy Safe Victoria (ESV), WorkSafe and Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) will visit worksites providing operators with information on laws that protect the community and the environment.
The initiative, which will run between Monday, 5 and Friday, 9 September, will focus on Ballarat, working to educate and call out issues, including building code and regulation compliance, No Go Zones, crystalline silica dust and waste management.
Build Aware has previously targeted regional areas including Shepparton, Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Wodonga, Geelong, Bendigo, Latrobe Valley and Warrnambool. Joint activities delivered by the regulators include industry trade breakfasts, joint inspections and educational presentations to local TAFE students.
During the week, the VBA will visit sites and review potential construction compliance risks with sites selected based on volume of work, practitioners of interests and available classes of building permits issued.
ESV will address dangers relating to No Go Zones, which includes the need for construction workers and machinery operators to always be aware of overhead and underground electrical assets, including high voltage power lines.
WorkSafe will raise awareness of the risks associated with exposure to crystalline silica dust and recent changes to the occupational health and safety regulations, which require duty holders to identify 'high-risk' crystalline silica work and document the measures used to control those risks.
While the EPA will ensure the construction industries are aware of their responsibilities on building sites when it comes to management of waffle pod polystyrene before and after use liquid storage and general waste management.
