The holiday season is almost upon us, and we’re all eager to have a bit of a rest, recharge, and spend quality time with our families. As we wind up 2024, it is a demanding time for construction as we try to complete jobs before the holiday shutdown. This can make it tempting to take shortcuts, however, it can also lead to an increase in incidents, with the last two months of the year seeing a spike in workplace incidents.
Common factors can include time pressure, working in the heat, and fatigue. It’s important to keep the health, safety, and well-being of workers front of mind.
It’s necessary to start preparing for the Christmas shutdown so that you don’t have any interruptions during your break or come to a nasty surprise on your first day back. This is particularly important with residential sites which are mostly in populated areas.
Unsecured sites could be hazardous to members of the public, especially children, particularly with sites near parks, schools, homes or recreational areas. Children are unaware of the dangers of a construction site so keeping them out is key.
Download our Site Security Checklist for a comprehensive list.
Taking the time to prepare your site for the holiday shutdown can help to make sure you get to spend uninterrupted time with your family and friends.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your Health and Safety please give our Advisory Team a call on 1800 954 702 or email info@hazardco.com.
We hope you have a safe and enjoyable break over the holiday season!
When you have an incident on-site, whether it’s a near miss, an injury, or a work-related illness, it’s important to document an incident report.
Incident reports don’t need to be time-consuming, lengthy or use fancy health and safety terms, you just need to describe what happened in your own words so you have a record of the incident. You can use the incident report to help explain what happened to others, such as your direct team on-site, contractors, other Employers, or the Principal Contractor.
An incident report is the process of recording incidents on-site, such as near misses, injuries, illnesses and plant/property damage. It involves documenting all the facts (known so far) related to the incident.
Check out this blog on managing and reporting incidents at work to learn more about what is considered an incident and why it’s both important and helpful to report incidents.
Hitting your body on an object is a very common example of an incident. For this incident report example, we will assume someone on-site has hit their body on a door frame and injured their shoulder.
Pictures speak a thousand words so don’t forget that you can upload scene photos or relevant information in picture form at this step in the app, and if there’s something that you don’t want forgotten you can also create a task.
This is an example of a simple incident report, find out more about what good incident reporting looks like.
If you’re a HazardCo member, hit the Report an Incident button in the HazardCo App and follow the guided prompts to record the incident. Your membership includes 24/7 incident support, so if you need some extra help filling in the report, would like advice on if the incident is notifiable to the Regulator, or would just like to chat with an expert about how to communicate the incident to your team, we are here to help!
Remember, when you have an incident on-site, writing an incident report is just one action you need to take. Learn more about what to do when you have an incident on site.
Anything with wheels and an engine should be at the forefront of your mind on site.
From delivery trucks to excavators, if it moves, and it’s got some weight… then that means power! it’s going to cause some damage if it isn’t controlled. So always keep safety in mind!
Keep pedestrians and vehicles apart
Separate the two wherever you can with careful planning at the design and set up stages.
Minimise vehicle movements
Provide car and van parking away from the work area if possible. Also control entry points, and plan storage areas, so that vehicles don’t need to cross the site where people are.
Turning and reversing vehicles
A spotter wearing high-vis clothing should guide the driver who can’t see clearly behind their vehicle. Mirrors, reversing, warning alarms, sensors and cameras can also make all the difference.
People on-site
When untrained workers drive vehicles without authority, you’re in trouble. Always manage the training and access of drivers to your vehicles, including those visiting.
Visibility
The more the better, just make sure it stands out in the right way. From on-site lighting to aids for drivers (mirrors, CCTV cameras and reversing alarms) to hi-vis clothing for those on the ground. Find out more about the use of hi-vis clothing on-site in our blog here.
Accidents are preventable when risk is managed. How do you manage risk? You get a plan – a good one.
A traffic management plan documents and helps explain how risks will be managed. This might include details of:
Every site is different, but your plan should be monitored and reviewed regularly. It should also be adapted when there are changes to your work situation.
If you have any questions get in touch with the HazardCo team today
Electricity is essential on construction sites, but if the risks are not managed properly, it can pose serious dangers to people and property. Proper controls must be in place wherever electricity is used to keep everyone safe.
Because we use electricity differently across a site there are different ways to help manage the risks.
An RCD is an electrical safety device designed to immediately switch off the supply of electricity when electricity ‘leaking’ to earth is detected at harmful levels. RCDs offer high levels of personal protection from electric shock.
Fixed at the switchboard
Built into the powerpoint
Portable
Keep you and your team safe while working around electricity by checking your RCD regularly. Across Australia, the testing frequency is based off the standard, AS/NZS 3012:2019 which sets the specific requirements for construction sites and states:
If an RCD is tested and found to be faulty it must be taken out of service immediately and replaced as soon as possible.
Leads and cords are easily damaged, particularly those connected to equipment that is often moved. To protect them:
Inspection, testing and tagging of electrical leads and cords on construction sites are required to be completed every 3 months* by a competent person.
Any lead or cord that is damaged or that fails testing is to be immediately taken out of use and removed offsite. If you cannot promptly remove it offsite, consider other means like attaching a durable out of service tag so as to warn workers not to use that piece of equipment.
When you complete your regular Site Reviews using the HazardCo App, make sure that you are checking RCD’s and all other electrical equipment are in good working condition and are regularly inspected and tested.
If you have any questions in regards to this topic or need more support , reach out to HazardCo and speak to one of our expert Health and Safety Advisors. You can contact us on 1800 954 702.
*For Hire equipment, inspection is required prior to each hire and testing is carried out at least monthly. If hire equipment remains on the construction site then the frequency listed applies.
Health and safety is a core part of any business but incidents and injuries on the job can still happen. According to SafeWork Australia, in the construction industry alone there were 15,877 serious work-related injury claims between 2020 and 2021, and in the same period, there were 316 fatalities.
Construction and trades make up a fair portion of incidents and injuries at work. When you think about the cost of the time off, it adds up to a pretty staggered sum. As of 2020 the average compensation claim looks like:
With numbers like this, we need to help you find a way to improve the health and safety culture so you can make sure it’s safe and profitable as well.
The signs of poor health and safety
If you’re concerned that your health and safety policies and procedures aren’t being followed or maybe not quite up to scratch, there are a number of things you can keep your eyes peeled for:
So, how do you get your crew on board?
When it comes down to it, creating a culture of site safety isn’t as easy as putting new procedures in place and calling it a job well done – it’s up to you to involve and motivate your crew to be proactive and take safety into their own hands. You need to make sure that your crew are on board and are taking the right steps to create a safety culture.
Some steps you can take include:
Communication
It seems like an obvious one but poor communication can really hinder your efforts to create a safety culture. Having regular honest and open communication with your crew about why you’re talking about all things safety is the best way to help them understand the importance.
The more transparent and clear you are, the more likely they will be to really take the new initiatives seriously. Make sure that your crew has easy access to your current health and safety guidelines so they can stay in the know about any changes.
Support your staff
Site safety isn’t just about incidents on your site, it’s also about being a supportive employer who ensures their people are feeling safe and secure when they come to work every day. Make sure that the physical health, mental health and even emotional health of your people is a factor for how you manage them. Those working in construction and trades like other sections of society are at risk of depression, stress, or anxiety as well.
If you are taking steps to improve your site safety culture, make sure you factor in both physical and mental health awareness in all that you do for your staff. By providing resources and establishing an environment where your crew feels respected and safe to open up and express themselves you’ll be able to create a support system where you can look after each other’s wellbeing and mental health.
Training
Ensuring that your crew are trained up on all the correct licenses, procedures and health and safety practices is a sure fire way to make sure that they are fully knowledgeable on correct procedures. With the right training in place, you can have confidence that they know how to safely and correctly perform their jobs.
Be a leader
We’ve all experienced bad leadership before, and that if they don’t care about something, it’s highly unlikely you will either. So, if your crew sees that you don’t take health and safety seriously, you’re out of luck getting them to foster a culture of site safety.
You need to walk the walk before you talk the talk. Demonstrate to your crew the importance of following health and safety standards by doing them yourself. They’re a whole lot more likely to follow your example than just take your word for it.
Reporting
You need to set the tone with your crew that reporting incidents isn’t something they need to feel anxious or uncomfortable about doing. Make it clear that they won’t get in any trouble for making a report but instead see it as a way of finding out what caused the accident or injury and what can be done to make sure it won’t happen again. By making proper reporting a core element of your crew’s job responsibilities it can become second nature to them.
Make it a team effort
Site safety impacts everyone, so it makes sense that your crew should have a hand in shaping their site’s culture. The more input they have, the more likely they are to follow precautions.
By having regular health and safety chats with your crew, you can give them the opportunity to voice their own safety concerns and opinions. By having open conversations and allowing input from your crew you’re giving them the ability to implement safety measures that affect their own jobs, ultimately making them more likely to follow processes and encourage others to do the same.
If you have any questions please reach out to the HazardCo team today
The HazardCo App has a new Plant/Machinery Pre-Start tool! It’s a quick and easy way to do pre-start checks on various plant and machinery such as scissor lists, boom lifts and excavators. Just whip out your app, follow the guided prompts and you’ll know all your reports are saved for safe keeping.
This is a great new tool for those of you currently filling in the log book that stays with the machine, causing lots of painful admin work to gather and compile the information for your own records.
Why conduct pre-start checks?
Pre-start checks are a simple way to check your plant and machinery is up to scratch before it’s used. Whether it’s hired or owned equipment, a quick check will help you to find any potential issues that could impact on the safety of your team or the performance of the machinery. By referring to the manufacturer’s instructions and best practices, workers can make sure the machinery they have is in a safe condition to be used, and if not, the App gives you an easy way to communicate the issues happening on the ground to the right people. When done well pre-start checks go a long way to preventing incidents and equipment failures.
When to use the Plant/MachineryPre-Start tool
The Plant/Machinery Pre-Start tool should be used before the operation of any plant or machinery. You can find it in the main menu of the HazardCo App. Once a pre-start check is completed, the report is automatically saved to the Reports section in the Hub and the App for easy access in the future.
Bennefits for workers: The Plant/Machinery Pre-Start tool provides an easy way to follow pre-start procedures. It helps you to communicate any issues that need to go up the chain and make sure information isn’t lost or misunderstood.
Benefits for workers: This tool is a quicker and easier way to maintain evidence of your crews safe work practises on site. Anyone on site can use the app to complete a Plant/Machinerypre-start, you’ll be able to see it’s been done, and you won’t need to find and scan physical log books anymore!
Read step by step instructions
In light of the recent changes to Australia’s industrial manslaughter laws, we sat down with Glenn, one of our HazardCo Health and Safety (H&S) experts to break down what these laws mean for building companies and tradies.
Q: Glenn, what exactly is industrial manslaughter?
Glenn: Industrial manslaughter is a big deal because it means that if a business owner or someone in charge of a worksite doesn’t take safety seriously, and it leads to a worker’s death, they could be held legally responsible. It’s about accountability. If you knew—or should’ve known—that what you were doing (or not doing) could seriously harm someone, and it ends up causing a death, then we’re talking about industrial manslaughter.
Q: So what’s new with these laws? How are they different from before?
Glenn: The big change here is that industrial manslaughter is now a criminal charge—meaning individuals can face serious charges, and potentially be convicted and face prison time if found guilty. It’s a clear message that safety is non-negotiable. With South Australia and NSW putting in place industrial manslaughter laws this year, and Tasmania pending, they will soon be nationwide.
Q: Who does this law apply to? Is it just for business owners?
Glenn: While business owners are definitely in the spotlight, this law can apply to anyone who has a duty of care on a worksite. So if you’re in a position where you’re responsible for other people’s safety, and your negligence causes a fatality, you could be held accountable. It’s not just about the big bosses; anyone with responsibility for safety needs to be on their game.
Q: Can you give us some examples, Glenn, of how this duty of care might play out on a construction site?
Glenn: Absolutely. In construction, there are plenty of scenarios where this duty of care comes into play. For example, if a site supervisor gives wrong information, tools, or instructions, and a worker is killed, that site supervisor could be facing a charge of industrial manslaughter. It’s the same for contractors—say one builds faulty foundations, and someone ends up getting hurt or worse, that contractor could also be held responsible. And it doesn’t stop there; the PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) might also be on the hook if they didn’t have solid processes in place to ensure the build was up to standard.
Q: What constitutes industrial manslaughter, Glenn? What are the criteria for being charged?
Glenn: To be charged with industrial manslaughter, a few key things need to line up.
First, you have to be a PCBU or an officer of the PCBU.
Second, you must have engaged the individual to work on your site.
Third, you need to be aware of the safety risks they were exposed to.
Fourth, you didn’t do anything about those known risks—whether it’s changing, communicating, or documenting them.
And finally, a fatality has to occur as a result of those risks that you were aware of and failed to address. The main thing that really seals the deal here is what’s called “gross negligence.” Legally, it means that if you have a duty of care, know about a risk, and don’t take action, it becomes much easier to prove negligence. It’s not just about being aware of the risk; it’s about failing to act on it.
Q: This all sounds pretty serious, Glenn. Should businesses be worried?
Glenn: It’s serious, but there’s no need to panic if you’re doing the right thing. The key takeaway is that these laws are here to protect workers. If you’re following safety protocols, keeping your worksite safe, and not cutting corners, then you’re on the right track. The law is only a threat to those who ignore their responsibilities. It’s about doing what’s right, not just for the law, but for the safety of everyone on site.
Q: What steps can businesses take to avoid being charged with industrial manslaughter?
Glenn: There are five simple steps that can really help you stay on the right side of the law—and more importantly, keep everyone safe.
If you have any questions get in touch with the HazardCo team today
You’re probably across the recent engineered stone ban, but did you know SafeWork Australia has just come out with new rules to further protect workers from crystalline silica found in other building materials? These new rules begin on 1st September this year and apply to all states except Victoria whose rules are already in place.
Crystalline Silica Substances (CSS) include stuff like sand, stone, concrete, and mortar that contain at least 1% crystalline silica. When you cut, crush, drill, polish, saw or grind these materials, they release tiny dust particles called respirable crystalline silica (RCS). These particles are so small they can get deep into your lungs, which can lead to serious health issues, like silicosis—a lung disease.
If silica dust is generated, assess if the work is high-risk. Document this using the handy Form in the HazardCo Hub, and if you determine the work is not high risk, you must explain why. If you’re unsure, assume it is high-risk. When assessing if processing CSS is high risk, consider these factors:
Eliminate or minimise the risks from processing the CSS as much as possible and use at least one of the following measures during the processing:
If workers are still at risk of being exposed to silica dust after you’ve put one or more of the above controls in place they need to be provided with respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and wear the respiratory protective equipment while the work is carried out.
Avoid high-risk tasks when possible. If unavoidable, create a silica risk control plan outlining tasks, risks, and controls. This plan must be developed with workers, shared with them before starting work, and regularly reviewed for effectiveness.
What needs to be in a silica risk control plan?
Keep it simple and easy to understand—no need for lengthy explanations.
We suggest using the SWMS tool in the HazardCo App if the processing creates a contaminated atmosphere or involves high-risk construction work. Just ensure all the Silica Control Plan requirements are covered.
Ensure that any worker involved in or at risk of RCS exposure due to high-risk CSS processing receives crystalline silica training. This training must be nationally accredited or approved by the WHS regulator and should cover health risks and the correct use of control measures.
Conduct air monitoring if you’re unsure whether silica levels exceed the Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) or need to assess if there are health risks from RCS processes. Hire a certified expert like an occupational hygienist, to perform the monitoring and ensure it meets standards. If levels exceed limits, report it to the Regulator within 14 days. Keep records for 30 years and make them available to affected workers.
Provide health monitoring for workers at significant risk from ongoing silica exposure, including those near high-risk processing. Keep records for 30 years and give a copy to the worker.
Regularly review safety measures, especially after workplace changes.
If you need guidance, reach out to our advisory team at 1800 954 702 for assistance.
HazardCo understands that on-site first aid is about more than just sending someone on a course every few years. As an employer or principal contractor on-site, you have a legal and moral obligation to make sure your team has access to first aid equipment and facilities, as well as access to trained first aiders.
To determine the necessary level for your workplace, assess the site by considering:
Don’t forget to involve your workers in the process and if you are working with multiple trades, or are the principal contractor, you should share information and work together cooperatively.
Having a first aid kit on a construction site is essential to quickly address injuries and medical emergencies. Great kits can be sourced from many places – a basic kit should include equipment t to tend to:
Basic first aid kits are not always enough given the nature of construction work and increased risk of eye injury, cuts, falls etc, so you’ll need to consider what other equipment to add e.g. eye pads, eyewash, additional dressings and bandages.
Include your team and see if they think your first aid kit is sufficient for the site hazards and team size… and make sure they know who the trained first aider is and where the first aid kit is kept! It helps if your first aid kit is clearly labeled and is made from a material that can protect the contents from dust, moisture and contamination.
Lastly, assign someone to be in charge of replenishing the kit. Make sure this happens regularly and keep a list of what’s supposed to be in the kit to make topping it up easier. At the same time, check training is up to date for your first aiders, and if your team size has changed, whether you still have enough team members trained in first aid.
Keeping first aid up to date is the right thing to do by your team, so make sure you’ve got things covered and that you’re all prepared if any sort of injury takes place.
If you have any questions please contact the HazardCo team today.
Did you know that if you’re carrying out renovation work the same risks apply as a new build? Whether you’re carrying out extensions, renovating, flood remedial work, large landscaping jobs or you’re engaging contractors for the work, HazardCo have you covered.
You will firstly need to think about how you will manage health and safety on-site and how you will communicate this with other people involved in the build, such as the homeowner, or other contractors on-site. This will ensure that everyone is on top of the site hazards and practicing good health and safety during your build.
A HazardCo Project is ordered for each significant job, such as a new house build or large renovation. They contain site-specific resources for that job, including:
Have a read of the following 5 areas, if you meet these requirements a Project could be needed.
Even if none or only some of the above 5 areas apply, the HazardCo app and hub can still be used effectively outside of ordering a project. So keep reading.
We recommend that you use the HazardCo App and Hub to manage your on-site health and safety. Here are our tips to get the most out of the HazardCo system:
Lastly, sometimes renovation projects can be unique and you may still feel unsure about whether you should order a project or how the HazardCo system can help you to manage Health and Safety effectively. So give us a call and we can chat about your upcoming works and how HazardCo may work best for you. So don’t be shy – get in touch with us and we’ll help you make your site a safer one.
