A fatal incident at a recycling centre in Greenacre, Sydney, has raised serious safety concerns within workplaces across New South Wales (NSW). A man in his fifties tragically lost his life after being struck by a truck at approximately 7.30pm. This incident comes just hours after a worker in his forties was critically injured while caught between two vehicles at a smash repair workshop in Auburn.
In response to these alarming events, SafeWork NSW has launched an investigation and issued a prohibition notice to the recycling centre, mandating improved safety measures during vehicle handling to prevent further accidents. These incidents occurred amid ongoing statewide compliance operations designed to tackle workplace injuries.
Since the beginning of last month, SafeWork NSW has issued nearly 250 notices, including a notable concentration of inspections in Prestons, where authorities conducted 12 visits over a three-day period, resulting in 42 improvement notices and seven prohibition notices.
Trent Curtin, head of SafeWork NSW, expressed condolences to the families and friends affected by these tragedies, emphasising the pressing need for workplaces to reassess their safety protocols. He urged those involved with mobile plants, fixed machinery, and vehicles to critically evaluate their existing safety systems to mitigate the risk of such severe mishaps occurring in the future.
The alarming frequency of these incidents underscores the importance of workplace safety and the need for rigorous enforcement of safety regulations to protect workers. SafeWork NSW continues to advocate for a safer working environment across the state.