Obligation to ensure proper supervision of building work

Section 12(b) of the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA) (the Act) provides that a licensed building work contractor must ensure that building work of any kind performed under the contractor's licence is properly supervised by a registered building work supervisor.

Failure by a building work contractor to ensure proper supervision of building work may result in cancellation or suspension of the contractor's licence, conditions being imposed on the licence or disciplinary action.

"Properly supervising" building work means that a supervisor should at least undertake:

• frequent inspections of the building works and be present when all major structural events occur; and
• appropriate checks during the course of construction to ensure that construction occurs in accordance with the building plans.