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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Lanie Tindale

Two sites shut down following death of construction worker in Taylor

Flowers placed at the location of the man's death on Gordon Ford Way, Taylor. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

Two worksites have been shut down in Taylor, following the death of a construction worker last week.

The 43-year-old died on Wednesday after being pinned by a truck trailer on Gordon Ford Way in Taylor.

Six teams of WorkSafe ACT inspectors spent five hours inspecting sites across the north Canberra suburb on Tuesday.

WorkSafe has distributed at least 94 notices for unsafe work practices, including 84 improvement notices and 11 prohibition notices.

The two closed worksites will need to be cleaned and secured before reopening.

Work Health and Safety Commissioner, Jacqueline Agius said she was "extremely disappointed" to see poor work and health safety measures in Taylor.

WorkSafe ACT inspector Craig Dillon and Work Health and Safety Commissioner Jacqueline Agius. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

"Given the recent fatality of a worker connected to this industry, I'm extremely disappointed to see there has not been an improvement of standards at residential construction sites in this suburb," she said.

WorkSafe said the main work health and safety issues seen at Taylor included lack of access, the risk of falling from large heights and no managing silica dust.

"[The] lack of housekeeping with two sites [was] so badly maintained that access and egress was hindered," WorkSafe said.

It also said worksites were not testing and tagging, and there weren't COVID safety plans at many sites.

WorkSafe ACT also distributed issued 14 prohibition notices and 67 improvement notices to sites in Taylor in September this year.

Flowers placed at the location of the accident on Gordon Ford Way, Taylor. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

CFMEU ACT branch secretary Zachary Smith previously said construction employers were rushing to get jobs done before Christmas.

The COVID-19 lockdown left the industry six weeks behind on construction.

"We are starting to see examples of sites doing long hours to get things finished, it's no excuse," he said.

Ms Agius said businesses needed to put worker safety before deadlines.

"We are urging businesses not to rush and put health and safety at risk to meet a deadline. We want every Canberra worker to be safe and well this holiday season," she said.

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