Statistics show that over 90 per cent of accidents that happen in a construction workplace occur as a result of just four elements that can be reduced by a few Construction Safety Tips. Those elements are as follows. Being caught between objects, being struck by objects, electrocution and falls. Just imagine how much safer your workplace would be without the danger of these. Of course, we can’t eliminate these completely. We do work in a very dangerous industry, after all, but we can all work to minimize the risks inherent in our jobs. Let’s have a look at how we can simply, but effectively reduce the dangers in construction.

Firstly, being caught between objects is most likely to happen when working in confined spaces. Obviously, the most significant danger here is when we are unaware of our surroundings. This is often as a result of limited visibility, a sense we rely on greatly in our work. Having a qualified and experienced second when working in confined spaces is a must, and simply positioning a new recruit to ensure compliance with regulations is a sure fire way to danger. A good Construction Safety Tip is to make sure there is constant communication between the two (or more) working in confined spaces, even if there is no immediate danger. This ensures that both parties remain aware at all times.

Secondly, being struck by objects is something that often occurs in sites with high building. An excellent Construction Safety Tip is to ensure that you have the right netting in place. Often, safety harnesses are sued to ensure safety from falls. While that is essential, it doesn’t necessarily ensure the safety of those below. Tethering, where appropriate would be a good Construction Safety Tip, but very often this isn’t possible. Fall and safety netting is the best Construction Safety Tip I can offer you. If it is correctly placed and spaced, it will ensure the safety of those below.

Electrocution is a difficult one to apply Construction Safety Tips to. The nature of it means that very often it is invisible until the accident occurs. The best Construction Safety Tip we can apply here is to ensure that everyone on site has enough knowledge and awareness to identify a problem before it arises. This very often means that an additional course may be required to fulfill your construction safety requirements.

Lastly, falls. This is low hanging fruit, meaning it can be so easily dealt with, that it shouldn’t be an issue at all. As I said before in a previous Construction Safety Tip, we should investigate the right kind of safety netting to compensate for being struck by objects. This Construction Safety Tip applies to falls as well, and choosing the right safety tool is essential, whether it’s a screen, a net, or a harness.

Remember, Construction Safety Tips are there for you to ensure the safety of your entire workforce.

Employees have basic duties to consider when looking at PPE Safety, or Personal Protective Equipment Safety. Here, I hope to cover a those points as comprehensively as possible as concisely as possible. One of the most obvious and important aspects of PPE Safety is defining it, so let’s get on and have a look at what Personal Protective Equipment is, exactly.

PPE is defined as any kind of equipment (this includes clothing which protects against the weather) which is used, or intended to be used by a person at work to lessen risks to his or hers health and safety. One important aspect of PPE Safety is that hearing protection and respiratory protective equipment may often not be covered in the same legislation, as they have different regulations covering them. Similarly, motorcycle helmets are not covered, as they are dealt with under road traffic regulations.

One of the most important aspects of PPE Safety is that both users and suppliers should assess its suitability for the job. This is one of the first stages of PPE Safety. If you are not sure that the equipment will reduce the risk of injury, then it is required that you make sure. This can be done a number of ways. Initially, a test may be made for the durability of gloves, or a tear test for chemical sheeting perhaps. You may be well aware of PPE Safety usability, and in which case, you are already ahead of the game. In a vast majority of cases, your safety equipment supplier will have the appropriate legislation to hand at point of sale, so it’s worth doing it then.

Maintenance and storage is another key aspect of PPE Safety. A piece of protective equipment can easily become useless if left unused and in an unfit storage facility. The key point to raise here is that each individual product will have its manufacturer’s storage instructions, and in many cases this will be pretty straightforward. It’s also worth noting that you should keep appropriate replacements handy.

There are a number of questions you should ask when assessing PPE Safety. Is it appropriate for the risks? Is an obvious one. Does it increase the overall risk? This is a key point, because even if it satisfies all other criteria, a small blemish may increase the risk of an unassociated hazard or injury. Can it be adjusted for the weather? We work in all conditions, and something that’s appropriate for a light shower may not work properly in a hail storm. Is it compatible with other kinds of PPE? This is especially important when dealing with respirator and eyewear issues.

So you see there are many more issues than simply providing the right gear, and doing a little training. PPE Safety is a serious aspect of any construction safety plan, and should be treated as such.

It’s good to know that we, in Australia, have some of the best OSHA Fall Protection around. In fact, fairly recently the US government cited Australia and New Zealand in a final ruling which has resultantly increased the safety of construction workplaces. Fall protection is getting increasingly important, as we strive to build higher and higher into the sky, and as such the options available to sites is growing.

Obviously the most standard piece of OSHA Fall Protection apparatus is the good, old fashioned construction safety netting. This is something like a trapeze net, which catches anyone or anything that falls from a height. There are a number of regulations regarding this, not least of which is the testing and evaluation of the construction. Nets must extend outwards in relation to how high they are being built, and should be able to withstand considerably more than your weight. The most effective test is dropping a sandbag from the greatest height, and watching the results.

Very often, safety netting isn’t appropriate, and it’s here that OSHA Fall Protection guidelines state that a safety harness is used above a certain height. This height is deemed to be around 6 foot. Again, simply having the safety apparatus in place doesn’t mean that you are necessarily safe, as it has to be tested. Also, obstructions can impede the fall of a person, and these need to be taken into consideration, simply by nature of the physics involved in wearing a harness.

The relatively new technology of safety screens rather than safety netting is one which is becoming increasingly used, but given the relatively high cost of such devices, they will not come into common usage for a number of years.

Any OSHA Fall Protection considerations should be sure to encompass more general aspects of construction safety such as the proper supervision of construction workers, the implementation of safe work procedures and maintenance of the selected OSHA Fall Protection system.

Maintenance is another pertinent element of OSHA Fall Protection. Ultimately, fitting safety devices and training workers in their use isn’t the basic requirement. Regular and documented checks need to be made not just on a frequency basis, but also after any event which could have an impact on the effectiveness of a safety harness, netting or screen. This could be something as innocuous as a rain shower, of period of inactivity on site. These checks do not have to be exhaustive, but should be documented properly to avoid misunderstanding.

The need to establish when and where these fall hazard systems should be placed is an absolutely vital one, and courses are available to enable you to more accurately establish the needs of any given situation. Fall hazards are a significant risk in our industry, and the less of them we have, the better things will go on our construction sites.

Ensuring you meet Civil Construction Safety Requirements is an essential part of any building job, and requires a degree of training to ensure that you and those around you are suitably aware of the Health And Safety requirements in Australia.

Courses in Civil Construction Safety encompass a number of elements including the areas around direct Health and Safety requirements. For example, any good course will make you aware of the Health and Safety legislation appropriate to you. This is one of the things that may open your eyes massively to what’s involved in the whole construction safety industry. Simply knowing what the government has set out as law is a good way to blanket your knowledge with key points.

One particularly pertinent aspect of Civil Construction Safety is that any site should consider noise levels. The permitted decibel limits and hours are clearly listed here, and this forms one of the most easily understandable elements of Safety And Health Regulations documents. Given this, then, you could forgive any occupational safety and health official clamping down on this. Bear in mind it’s not simply a question of your noise production, but you will need to make sure your decibel meters are properly calibrated and used.

Electrical safety is another key issue. According to the Civil Construction Safety regulations, where appropriate, power to systems should be shut off before work starts on it. Similarly, the government’s checklists call for heavy-duty cabling and cordage and well as a different type of power-plug, namely the grounded, or three-pronged type. Electrical hazards are amongst the most dangerous on any building site, as the danger – which may be immediate – cannot be seen. Having correct procedures and the right communication lines will help you when using fulfill your Civil Construction Safety requirements.

We should also consider personal protective equipment, or PPE when looking into the topic of Civil Construction Safety. The fact you are using the right equipment doesn’t necessarily mean you are safe. Ironically, one of the most common causes of harm during accidents is the improper use of protective equipment. It’s also worth remembering that incorrect use of protective clothing and equipment may lead to the removal of your means to earn. If you are injured while using supplied safety equipment, but use it incorrectly, you are not immediately liable to gain any compensation from your employer.

Civil Construction Safety is the most important aspect of your working life if you work on a building site. There are so many elements to working safety – far too many to list here – but suffice it to say that failure to consider it properly will almost certainly lead to either injury for you or those around you. Civil Construction Safety is there for your benefit, so don’t take it for granted.

As a member of the industry, making Construction Safety Awareness your first concern is the only responsible attitude to take. Failure to do this could result in death or injury to yourself and others on site. Seriously, it’s just not worth taking a lackadaisical attitude toward it. Ask anyone who’s been hurt, or had a friend or loved one killed on-site, and you’ll find they all wish safety regulations had been followed more closely.

One of the best ways to increase your Construction Safety Awareness is to enrol on a Construction Safety Awareness course of some kind. There are plenty of these around, and as long as you vet them properly, they can be a real lifesaver in the most literal sense of the world. They can be pretty inexpensive as well. Many great courses can be found at huge discounts for many people.

These courses in Construction Safety Awareness encompass a number of elements including the areas around direct Health and Safety requirements. For example, any good course will make you aware of the Health and Safety legislation appropriate to you. This is one of the things that may open your eyes massively to what’s involved in the whole construction safety industry. Simply knowing what the government has set out as law is a good way to blanket your knowledge with key points.

Accident reporting and procedures are also covered, and will always assume the worst, so that you are prepared for any eventuality. Similalry, first aid and accident prevention may be elements of your working life that you think you know, but do you really know what to do in an emergency or near emergency? If you ask yourself, probably not, really.

The real core of any Construction Safety Awareness course is the nuts and bolts of your working life. These are things that you will know inside and out if you’ve been working on site for a while. Or at least think you know. The thing is, even if there is only one piece of real ‘news’ included in there, it could be the one thing that saves your life or someone around you.

Things like manual handling, working at heights, vehicular use, PPE, safe use of hand tools, excavations and COSHH form that meaty core, and it’s understood that you probably know much of it. You don’t simply ‘get’ awareness and have it for the rest of your life though. You will need refresher courses, and new information when it comes along. Remember, legislation changes often, so keep abreast of it.

The key thing to remember about Construction Safety Awareness is that if you work on your own and have perfect awareness, you have minimal exposure to risk. What about your colleagues though? What about blind luck? What about stupidity or a lapse in common sense? What about the daily differences? Keeping aware of all this is a tricky business, and the more you do to ensure that you are doing the best you can to keep your site safe, the better. Construction Safety Awareness is, in essence, what will keep you alive above all else, so make sure you have it.

The OHS legislation and regulation in all Australian states and territories imposes considerable responsibility and accountability on all those engaged in construction activities. The OHS Management Systems of an organisation address all those responsibilities.

The OHS Management System is a four tier system:

• Corporate OHS Management system (OHSMS): A corporate OHSMS document describes OHS policies and procedures covering all the activities of the organization.. The OHSMS also defines responsibilities for the management OHS.
• Project OHS Management Plan (PSMP): A project OHS Management Plan is a document setting out the specific OHS resources, responsibilities, procedures and practices for a particular project
• Site-specific Safety Management Plan (SSMP): A Site-specific Safety Management Plan is a document that identifies who is responsible for site-specific OHS aspects. The plan also identifies the OHS hazards associated with the work, risk management processes to deal with them, site induction training, incident management, site safety rules and safe work method statements.
• Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS): A Safe Work Method Statement is a document that identifies the safety controls that will be put in place to control and minimize the health and safety hazards and risks associated with a specific activity, job or task.

OHS Management Systems For Construction Projects

Major construction contracts are normally required to have the PSMP (that includes SSMP and SWMS) and must be written around the organisation’s OHSMS.

Minor construction contracts are normally required to have a SSMP and the SSMP must be written around the organisation’ OHSMS. Small organisations may not have the OHSMS documented, so it is quite acceptable to have the SSMP enhanced to include the requirements of OHSMS.

When it comes to OHS Management Systems, principal contractors must ensure that a PSMP or SSMP is prepared for each place of work before the work commences and the plan is maintained and kept up to date through the duration of the project.

The principal contractor must ensure that copies of any parts of the PSMP or SSMP that are relevant to a subcontractor are provided to the sub-contractor before the sub-contractor commences work at the place of work concerned.

It is a common practice that subcontractors may be required to have their own SSMP, but it is most important that the subcontractor must not commence work on site unless it:

• has been provided by the principal contractor for the construction works with a copy of the parts that the PSMP for the place of work that are relevant to the subcontractor and,
• has undertaken an assessment of the risks associated with the work to be carried out and provided to the principal contractor a written SWMS and,
• has completed induction training with respect to OHS as specified in the PSMP for the place of work.

A well structured SSMP is the only document you need in most cases to deliver construction works; implementing the SSMP will help you to reduce work-related injuries, increase productivity and at the same time you will be complying with OHS regulations.

So, if you are required to have OHS Management Systems it may mean you need a PSMP, SSMP or maybe just a SWMS.

OHS Training is one of the key principles of effective management of health and safety management in construction works.

Federal and State OHS legislations and regulations across the Australian require from employers to have their staff including managers, work supervisors and employees to be trained in control measures and specific hazards of their assigned tasks.

OHS Training in the construction industry includes:

• General OHS induction training
• Work activity-based health and safety training
• Site-specific health and safety induction training

The general OHS induction training is provided by external organisations approved by workcover organisations such as the Workcover NSW or Workcover Victoria. This training covers general aspects of health and safety issues in construction sites, common hazards and risks that an employee could face when working on a high risk activities such as the construction works. An induction card is provided as attainment of the training and the card is valid interstate.

The work activity-based health and safety training concerns training provided on the safety procedures also know as safe work method statements or job safety analysis developed for a specific construction site. This training is normally provided by the Works Supervisor or Team Leader through toolbox meetings before each activity commence on site.

The site-specific induction training concerns training on identified specific hazards, risks and controls measures required at a particular construction site. The induction is normally delivered by the Works Supervisor to employees and subcontractors commencing work on construction sites

To add up to OHS Training discussed above there is also training and/or competencies requirements on specific trades and occupations such as electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, plant operators and others.

As an employer your construction safety responsibilities involves the identification of training gaps within your workforce to deliver your projects safely and planning the training needs of the workforce to ensure their health and safety is not compromised.

From the three types of OHS Training, all are important and are must on construction works; having a properly trained staff will reduce work related injuries and increase productivity.

If you have experience in the area of construction safety, then there’s a fair chance that you will be interested in Occupational Health and Safety Jobs. To be a viable candidate for such a position is certainly no easy feat. You need to have certain qualifications in the area of Occupational Health & Safety from some type of tertiary educational institution. In addition, many companies these days tend to prefer those with considerable work experience, which can disadvantage graduates.

People involved in OHS are given all types of titles ranging from manager, advisor, officer and coordinator. Nevertheless, many of their duties are similar despite the different titles. You may be wondering what some of these duties are. Here are just some common examples:

• Update and maintain OHS systems and policies
• Onsite implementation and implementation
• Directing safety personnel on the site (may involve construction safety training)

There is really no limit to the types of tasks that could be given at Occupational Health and Safety Jobs yet they all appear to be similar.

If you think you’ve got the right qualifications for such roles and are not currently employed, then you will probably want to find an OHS job that suits you. The best place to begin your search is by accessing some of the biggest career websites in the country.

MyCareer is probably the biggest and most used one out there and should be your first point of call. You can certainly find a good collection of OHS jobs there. Another one that may assist is CareerOne.

The most important thing to remember is that Occupational Health and Safety Jobs are out there to be taken.

Last week, the Australian government announced some important Changes In Australian Safety Legislation. As you may already know, on the 3rd of April 2009, the Workplace Relations’ Ministers Council (WRMC) recognised the creation of the Safe Work Council and the independent body that will support the Council known as Safe Work Australia. This was the result of an Intergovernmental Agreement (which was signed by the Council of Australian governments in July 2008) which formalised cooperation between all levels of governments to harmonise Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) legislation.

Recent Developments

Last week on the 7th September 2009, the Australian Senate passed without amendments the Safe Work Australia Bill 2008 which means that Safe Work Australia will now become the main independent body to govern occupational health and safety across Australia. The timeframe for this body to become operational is November 2009. You can find more information this important development on the Safe Work Australia website.

What This Means For You

The harmonisation of OHS legislation in Australia effectively means that construction safety legislation will also be harmonised. All current state and territory legislation will become void as the new independent national agency, Safe Work Australia, begins to review and modify OHS, compensation, and other material.

For the time being, the new agency has not become operational so this means that OHS legislation is state-based. However, when the new agency comes into operation and starts making changes, you can rest assured that this blog will keep you up to date.

Adapting to Changes In Australian Safety Legislation is the best way to go because you certainly do not want to be resisting these.

As an active member of the Australian construction industry, there’s little doubt that you would be interested in Construction Safety Legislation. As you probably already know, workplace safety is and should be the number one priority among contractors and companies in this industry. The level of risk that workers are exposed to on a frequent basis can only be compared to those who work in the mining industry.

Another reason why you would be interested in legislation is the consequences associated with incompliance. The law of the land is just that: the law of the land, which means that you either comply or suffer the consequences. If you are found to be providing inadequate Construction Health And Safety, you will almost be forced to pay a financial penalty. Depending on whether you’re a small or big company, the financial impact could be significant. On the other hand, an extreme breach of the law could see you defending yourself in court.

State & Territory Legislation

In Australia, Construction Safety Legislation exists at both a federal and state level. This may seem strange to some, but you needn’t to worry because there are only slight differences between them all. Nevertheless, these slight differences could be important depending on your situation and so cannot be ignored.

If you are currently not aware of the OHS legislation in your state or territory, it would be wise to pay a visit to the corresponding website. You can find a list of Australian OHS sites on the OHS regulations website.

Another thing to keep an eye on is the changes in legislation that can occur. At times, a significant event can take place which can cause the government to make swift changes to the law. You don’t want to be left in the dark when it comes to Construction Safety Legislation because it’s simply not worth it.