WorkSafe Victoria has charged a waterproofing company after two workers suffered significant burns at a residential construction site in Armadale.

The regulator announced the charges on 19 October 2026. The specific charges and court date are yet to be confirmed publicly, and the company involved has not been named at this stage.

What is known is that two workers were seriously harmed — burns significant enough to draw a formal response from the state’s workplace safety regulator. Waterproofing work at residential construction sites often involves the use of bituminous or chemical compounds applied at high temperatures, or volatile solvent-based products applied in enclosed spaces with limited ventilation. Either presents a serious burn and fire risk when proper controls are not in place.

The charges follow a pattern of WorkSafe Victoria taking enforcement action at residential sites in recent months, including the solar installer prosecution at Dandenong and multiple falls from height cases across Melbourne’s suburban construction zones.

For waterproofing contractors, the key risk controls are consistent across the industry: appropriate training in the safe handling of hot or hazardous materials, adequate ventilation, proper PPE including heat-resistant gloves and face protection, clear emergency procedures, and a Safe Work Method Statement that addresses the specific materials and application methods being used.

Burns are among the more preventable serious injuries in construction. Unlike falls, which can involve complex risk interactions across site layout, sequencing, and supervision, burn injuries from known substances with known hazards are eminently controllable — when the right controls are consistently applied.

The matter is before the courts, and WorkSafe Victoria has the authority to pursue further action as the investigation progresses.