Hurt workers on the rise

MORE Geelong building workers are being injured on the job, sparking union calls for an increase of on-site safety inspections.

Geelong construction workers made 152 injury claims in the 2016-17 financial year, up from 133 the previous year. While the financial cost of these claims has yet to be calculated, it is expected to exceed the estimated $10.9 million claimed the year earlier.

The rising number of claims were largely lodged by younger workers, prompting a call from WorkSafe for employers to improve staff education.

Workers aged 35-44 lodged 35 injury reports, while workers 15-24 claimed 31 injuries.

WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Marnie Williams said poor traffic management and lack of processes were contributing factors to the rising number of claims in the Geelong region.

“Some of the safety issues we are seeing in the Geelong region are workers working at height without appropriate fall protection, poor traffic management, which fails to keep pedestrians and workers away from vehicles and machinery, poor processes in relation to asbestos removal and people working too close to live power lines,” Ms Williams said.

Geelong Trades Hall secretary Collin Vernon said unions wanted to see a dramatic reduction in workers being injured or killed on the job.

“We’ve seen time and again where employers are left to their own devices and corners are cut,” Mr Vernon said.

Ms Williams said every employer, contractor or builder was obliged, under the OHS Act, to provide a safe working environment.

“The best way to understand the risks in your workplace is to speak with your workers. Everyone needs to keep safety in mind and address any safety issue as they arise,” she said.

Almost 26,000 workers were seriously injured while 26 people died on the job last year.