Minister for innovation and better regulation

THE death of a man repairing a water tank at Dyraaba last August is one of several tragedies in NSW last year that sparked a warning about the dangers of working in a confined space.

Bosses are being urged to do more to protect employees as SafeWork NSW investigates a number of fatalities in 2018 involving working in confined spaces.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said: "Small spaces like silos, chimneys, tunnels and tanks are not designed to be worked in regularly, but sometimes they need to be accessed for cleaning, maintenance or repairs".

An engineering firm investigating Sydney's cracked Opal Tower has found the building is "structurally sound overall" but the cause of the cracks is still unknown.

WSP, one of the investigators being employed by the building company Icon, said on Monday investigators have accessed all key locations in the Sydney Olympic Park apartment tower and found the building is "structurally sound overall".

Labor’s major building reform package is in disarray within hours of being announced, with the Shadow Minister and Opposition Leader at odds over the most significant part.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said Michael Daley’s proposed cab rank system for certifiers was slammed as “unworkable” by Yasmin Catley in Parliament, on October 23.

“Once again Michael Daley has shown he’s an L-plate Opposition Leader, whose knee jerk announcements are dangerous for NSW,” Mr Kean said.

An immediate audit of private building certifiers will be launched by the state government to ­ensure the safety of high-rise living.

The safety blitz will take place in the wake of the Opal Tower emergency and is designed to restore confidence in the increasing number of high-rise residential buildings appearing on ­the state’s skyline.

The failure of a prefabricated concrete panel in the Opal Tower at Homebush has focused attention on the role of private certifiers, who are responsible for ensuring the work of developers meets legal requirements.

Three residents of the cracked Opal Tower building are refusing to vacate following calls from the builder and developer for them to leave.

In the first state government press conference on the issue since the building’s problems emerged, NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said the three people refusing to leave the building are in “parts of the building that aren’t affected by this”.

“My advice is there is no need to move those residents out,” he said.

Despite the Christmas guilt you’re feeling after stuffing yourself with too much turkey, you might want to pause for thought before rushing to sign up to a gym.

As New Year’s resolution decision time approaches, NSW Innovation and Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean has warned festive revellers they should look closely at the fine print on their contracts — saying he has heard of hundreds of complaints from disappointed gym-junkies.