On Tuesday SafeWork NSW launched a three-day blitz on Illawarra construction sites - both commercial and residential - to ensure companies were doing the right thing.

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In addition to checking on major dangers like scaffolding and cranes, Regional Director Laurence Richey said they would also be sticking their heads into bathrooms to check on their condition.

Mr Richey said a dirty toilet was a "flag" that more serious breaches might be occurring elsewhere on the site.

"That's an experience that's been called out by the NSW Building Commissioner and his work," Mr Richey said.

"If your toilets and amenities are at third-world standard then that's more likely to translate right across the site into some other things you do as well.

"People have basic rights as well. If the amenities aren't clean and tidy, especially in times of COVID where everyone's hygiene standards need to be exemplary, what will they be like at any other time?"

Mr Richey said inspectors would be visiting sites across the Illawarra in teams of two over the three-day blitz focusing on "higher harm events" like falls from heights, electrical accidents, workers hit by moving objects and safety around cranes.

"Some of those more serious issues like falls from heights, we will be taking a zero tolerance approach to any issues they detect," he said.

"We don't expect people to go to work and either be killed or seriously injured as a result of a fall from heights or serious harm issue such as electrical."

Trade unions and building associations were aware of the blitz, but Mr Richey said the advance notice did not result in people trying to tidy things up before the inspectors arrived.

"That's not our experience - it's not about catching people out, this is about making sure that safety standards are applied," he said.

Minister for Better Regulation, Kevin Anderson said the Illawarra blitz had been triggered by a series of serious incidents in the area and complaints of unsafe work via SafeWork's Speak Up app.

"A safe construction site starts with a clean site and we're seeing an unacceptable drop in housekeeping standards across the construction industry," Mr Anderson said.

"Having a well-maintained site is also a good indicator of the quality of the work being done.

"If the site managers can't be bothered to take care of the toilets, there's a good chance that building standards will be haphazard as well."

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