Worksites tend to be filled with constant noise from tools and machinery.
While noise often means things are getting done, there is a downside to it. Hazardous noise can affect a worker’s physical and mental wellbeing including hearing loss, stress, and lower productivity. So to help you protect your hearing, here are a few helpful tips to keep your ears in tip-top-shape.
Understand noise and it’s path
Understanding what makes noise on-site and how it impacts people and different areas on site is critical. Ask yourself and your workers:
- Where does most of the noise come from?
- What tools or machinery are the loudest?
- How does noise travel around the site?
Once you understand the answers to the above, you can start putting actions into place to control noise on-site.
Be sure to monitor and review the controls throughout the project, as different stages will create varying levels of noise.
Eliminate or reduce
The easiest way to decrease the effect of excessive noise on your site is to eliminate the source of noise completely. But, chances are this isn’t possible on a busy site.
The next best thing is to reduce noise.
A couple of easy ways to do this include:
- Using less powerful tools
- Can the work be done differently to reduce noise levels
- Keep noisy machinery or work stations away from walls or corners – really anywhere noise can bounce off and echo throughout site
Isolation
Isolation involves creating a dedicated space for ‘noisy work’. This could be an enclosed room or area of site where all noisy work and machinery is used or placing workers in an enclosed cabin when operating mobile plant. This helps to block the path of noise and reduce the levels that reach your team.
Engineering
Having a good understanding of how machinery and tools operate can help modify processes to reduce noise at the source. Engineering controls can include choosing attachments or parts that are noise reducing, or changing the way machinery and tools are used.
Vibrations
With noise comes vibrations. These vibrations can be just as harmful as the noise itself.
Here are a few strategies to help decrease vibrations when using machines or power tools:
- Heavy surfaces vibrate less and radiate less noise. So if you can, perform all work with power tools on heavy surfaces, such as concrete.
- If you can, work on benches/ surfaces that aren’t solid – holes allow noise to escape and not bounce off the surface.
- Place machinery or generators in an area of site where they are not trapped by walls unless they are made of noise-cancelling/absorbing materials.
It’s not possible to escape noise on-site, however we can put steps in place to help reduce the effect that noise has on us while we’re working.
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 2023, 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 that we all keep the health, safety, and well-being of workers first, especially at this time of year.
It is important 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.
A safe and secure site is more than just locking the gates. Ask yourself the following questions:
Is the worksite fenced off from the public and the boundary secure?
Make sure your site is securely fenced and all entrances are locked. Ensure your fencing is a sufficient height and that the gap at the bottom isn’t too big that people including children could squeeze through underneath.
Is clear signage present to warn people of danger?
Make sure your Hazard Board is up to date listing the current hazards and your contact details are clearly visible in case something does pop up you can be contacted quickly. If you need to order a project for your job this can be done through the HazardCo HUB.
Have steps been taken to prevent any unauthorised access, e.g. are all ladders removed or their rungs boarded so they can’t be used?
Remove any temptation to access hazardous areas. Where practical, remove all ladders from the site, including scaffolding and excavation ladders, or block access to these accessways.
Are excavations and openings securely covered, fenced off, or backfilled?
Cover and fence off any excavations to prevent potential falls. Where practical backfilling excavations are recommended.
Is all plant immobilised to prevent unauthorised use?
If you are unable to remove your vehicles or plant from the site, make sure it is left in a secure area, preferably out of sight, with the keys removed.
Are materials safely stacked and secured?
Ensure building materials are safely stacked and stored so they can’t topple or be knocked over.
Are all flammable or dangerous substances locked away in secure storage places?
Lock up your hazardous substances in secure storage appropriate for the type of substances being stored. Where possible remove hazardous substances from the site.
Are temporary structures stable and able to withstand bad weather conditions?
Check your temporary structures such as scaffolding and barriers to ensure they are secure and stable. Taking into consideration the changing weather.
Has the mains power been switched off?
Make sure the builder’s temporary or main power supply and switchboard are switched off and locked out.
Do unwanted construction materials and waste need to be removed from the site?
A quick clean-up can make a big difference. Make sure you remove all waste and empty skip bins on site.
Doing a Site Review on the HazardCo app on the last day, before you lock up will ensure you haven’t missed out on anything. Completing one when you return back to site gives you the opportunity to pick any additional hazards that may have occurred while away.
Although not recommended, if you do have lone workers on-site over the Christmas break ensure you have a lone worker policy in place. Key points are setting up regular check-ins, first aid kit on hand, a trained first aider and don’t carry out any high-risk work. See our Lone Worker article for more details.
In higher risk areas you may want to consider organising security to do regular patrols.
Taking the time to prepare your site for the Christmas Shutdown can help to make sure you get to spend your holiday uninterrupted with your family and friends.
As always 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.
Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are an important tool to use within the Construction Industry for High Risk Construction Work (HRCW). We’ve listed the common myths we hear across the industry to help you get a better understanding of what really matters when it comes to using a SWMS, and how you can make sure your SWMS is going to help keep you and your workers safe.
Myth – You need to include all the relevant Health and Safety Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice/Compliance Codes on the SWMS
Fact – It isn’t a legal requirement to include all the relevant Health and Safety Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice/Compliance Codes on the SWMS. Some companies, particularly larger ones, might ask their contractors to include this information. You might want to consider using a SWMS template.
Myth – A SWMS has to be on paper
Fact – The SWMS should be kept at the workplace where the work is being carried out. It can be in electronic format (such as a SWMS App) or in a paper format as long as it is readily available to workers involved in the work, and for the entire time they are doing the work.
Myth – You need to include a Risk Matrix and score the hazards and controls on the SWMS
Fact – It isn’t a legal requirement to include a Risk Matrix or score the hazards and controls on the SWMS, however some companies (particularly big ones) might ask their contractors to do this.
Myth – A SWMS doesn’t need to be kept after the HRCW has finished
Fact – In most cases, a SWMS doesn’t need to be kept after the HRCW has finished, however if you have a notifiable incident it’s likely you will need to keep a copy of the SWMS for two years after the incident date. Notifiable incidents are incidents where there is a serious injury or illness, or a dangerous incident and there are certain criteria which can help to identify these types of incidents. If you have a notifiable incident we recommend you check with your Regulator (e.g. WorkSafe, Safe Work) about your requirements or HazardCo members can reach out to our Health and Safety Advisory team for incident support and advice.
Myth – Once a SWMS is developed, you don’t need to review or change it
Fact – Not true! If the control measures don’t adequately control the risk, it needs to be reviewed and changed. This might happen when:
- a change at the site has introduced a new risk to the HRCW which needs to be documented and controlled
- you talk to the workers and/or contractors about the HRCW and realise a change is required
- an incident happens because of the HRCW
- while monitoring the work you realise the measures don’t control the risk
At any stage, if work is not being carried out in line with the SWMS make sure work stops immediately (or as soon as safe to do so) and only resumes after the SWMS has been reviewed.
Remember, if you’re using a SWMS template, it needs to be specific to the site and the HRCW being conducted. Find out if your SWMS templates are up to scratch.
Myth – A SWMS can only include content relevant to the HRCW
Fact – Only hazards and risks that are directly related to HRCW activities need be included in a SWMS. You can add non HRCW hazards and risks if it makes sense, but don’t overdo it. We suggest removing anything unrelated to the high risk construction work to keep it simple.
Myth – A SWMS is required for all high-risk work
Fact – A SWMS is only required for the following High Risk Construction Work (HRCW) :
- involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 m
- is carried out on a telecommunication tower
- involves demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing
- involves demolition of an element of a structure that is related to the physical integrity of the structure
- involves, or is likely to involve, disturbing asbestos
- involves structural alteration or repair that requires temporary support to prevent collapse
- is carried out in or near a confined space
- is carried out in or near a shaft or trench deeper than 1.5 m or a tunnel
- involves the use of explosives
- is carried out on or near pressurised gas mains or piping
- is carried out on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines
- is carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services
- is carried out in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere
- involves tilt-up or precast concrete
- is carried out on, in or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane or other traffic corridor in use by traffic other than pedestrians
- is carried out in an area of a workplace where there is any movement of powered mobile plant
- is carried out in areas with artificial extremes of temperature
- is carried out in or near water or other liquid that involves a risk of drowning
- involves diving work.
You must complete a SWMS before undertaking any high-risk construction work, so we’ve made it as simple as possible. The HazardCo App includes 25 easy-to-edit SWMS templates as well as all the other health and safety tools you need to protect your crew and your business. Get a free trial.
Reinforcing steel can be used in many ways on a building site. Terms commonly used are rebars and mesh. They are steel bars or mesh wires used to strengthen walls, concrete, or other stone structures.
Workers can fall on the protruding bars which can result in deep lacerations or even life-threatening injuries, so it’s important that preventive measures are in place to reduce the risks.
Some of the hazards include;
- Rebars protruding in walking spaces
- Concrete formwork bars protruding at low levels
- Rebar scraps left unattended on the worksite
- Workers not using appropriate safety equipment to reduce risks.
Here are some ways you can avoid rebar hazards:
Safety Caps
Safety caps are made of plastic so they are a cost-effective way of covering the protruding steel rods. Even though they are small, the safety caps effectively protect against injuries and potential impalement.
Their bright fluorescent colour increases visibility which lessens the chance of the worker walking into, or tripping over them by accident. They are also quick and easy to install.
Control access
In addition to using safety caps, access should be restricted to areas where there are protruding ends.
Injuries can happen when workers are not paying attention to the hazards around them, so ensure that your workers are aware of their surroundings, or physically prevent them from entering the area altogether by using barricades or tape to control access to those areas with hazards.
Keep a clean and tidy site
Ensure that you have a clean and tidy worksite. Gather and remove debris to keep the site free from scraps, and potential trip hazards.
Reinforcing steel scraps lying unattended can rust and pose a safety risk for workers, therefore, make sure you arrange prompt and proper disposal of the scrap materials.
PPE
PPE for people working with reinforcing steel may include;
- Hi-Vis clothing with long sleeves and pants
- Hard hat
- Safety glasses
- Suitable Steel cap boots
- Gloves
Best Practices
Construction can be dangerous. There are hazards in all worksites, which can result in life-threatening injuries. Carry out regular site reviews using the HazardCo App to ensure that hazards presented by reinforcing steel are correctly controlled.
Here are some best practices to follow, especially when working with reinforcing steel:
- Educate all workers handling reinforcing steel about the possible hazards
- Stay clear of the area when the rebars are hoisted
- Protect the protruding ends of reinforcing steel with safety caps
- Adequate lighting and signage should be present on the worksite
- Restrict access to dangerous areas
- Have a plan ready in case an injury occurs.
Of course, reach out to HazardCo and speak to one of our Health and Safety experts if you have any questions or need more support on avoiding reinforcing steel hazards.
We don’t need to tell you that asbestos is a big deal. The dangers of the substance are common knowledge. And knowledge is power, in this case, more so than most: the power to save lives.
With this in mind, we’d like to give you some basic information on the dangers of asbestos, where it can be found and what you can do to avoid it.
What are the different types of asbestos?
There are two types of asbestos:
- Friable (Class A): crushed or in a dust form, such as paper backing on vinyl or pipe lagging
- Non-friable (Class B): found in bonded products such as cement sheet and guttering.
Why is it so dangerous?
Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause a range of irreversible damage and diseases. Damage may occur in as little as five years or as long as 40-50 years later. Many people will not realise they have been exposed until it’s too late.
Where can it be found?
Approximately one third of all homes in Australia contain asbestos products. On 31st December 2003 asbestos was banned in Australia. Therefore any building constructed up until then has a high probability of containing asbestos. Remember, if you’re planning to renovate or partially demolish a building, have a survey done first to identify if asbestos containing material is present. If it is, contact your local Licensed asbestos removalist.
Is tere a safe way to dispose of asbestos?
Yes – as long as strict guidelines are followed. Bagging and wrapping asbestos pieces is essential in any sort of removal – and dumping asbestos-containing materials can only be done on authorised sites. We advise you to leave this to the Licensed asbestos removalists.
What more can you do?
Recognition means everything when it comes to asbestos. From sticking up posters on-site to equipping your team with knowledge of asbestos dangers through the HazardCo app, educating your workers could be the difference between life and death.
There are many asbestos awareness and training courses available online and face to face for further education and training.
Got Questions? Reach out to the HazardCo Health and Safety Advisory Support Team on 1800 954 702 to talk it over.
Asbestos Resources
WorkSafe Vic
- Website has plenty of free resources including:
WorkSafe QLD
- Website has plenty of free resources including:
SafeWork NSW
- Website has plenty of free resources including:
SafeWork SA
- Website has plenty of free resources including:
WorkSafe TAS
- Website has plenty of free resources including:
WorkSafe NT
- Website has plenty of free resources including:
Worksafe ACT
- Website has plenty of free resources including:
WorkSafe WA
- Website has plenty of free resources.
- AsbestosSafety.gov.au have some great content about how asbestos, finding local disposal facilities, health and exposure.
The more often you are exposed to a risk, the less your brain perceives the significance of the risk. The level of risk has not changed. Remember how your first time on a busy worksite felt, all those things going on around you. That level of danger is still there. As you have become constantly exposed to it your mind starts to ignore things it thinks are no longer relevant so you have to consciously pay attention to the ever-changing worksite environment. This is how many of the common injuries happen, the brain switches off and you go into ‘autopilot’.
Common incidents:
- Hitting your body on an object – This can be anything from hitting your head on scaffolding, grazing your leg or catching your arm on a protruding object.
- Manual handling – Lower back strains and sprains, shoulder injuries, torn muscles, and ligaments. Muscle injuries can have lengthy healing times and can be crippling.
- Nail guns – Lack of regular equipment servicing, sufficient training, and PPE can result in penetration injuries most commonly to the hands. These injuries can cause permanent damage.
- Hand tools – Commonly used tools such as hammers, hand saws and angle grinders. . Injuries usually result due to tools being dropped or misused.
- Slips/trips – Uneven ground surfaces, poor housekeeping, incorrect footwear, and weather conditions are common causes for slips and trips.
Corrective actions and recommendations
Hit body on object
- Plan tasks prior to carrying them out
- Assess the surroundings and adjust work tasks accordingly
- Take time navigating around the site
- Think about what you’re doing, not what you’re going to do
- Check to see if any surfaces, sharp edges or protruding objects need to be protected or removed
Manual handling
- Plan lifts prior to lifting loads, and ensure the path is clear
- Use mechanical aids to assist with lifting wherever possible
- Consider splitting heavier loads and minimising the distance the load is carried
- Adjust the work area to eliminate awkward positions and overreaching
- Warm up/stretch before each work day and after rest periods (lunch) – especially when the weather is colder
- Do not lift beyond abilities. Everyone is different in terms of what they can safely lift. Determine the weight and consider other alternatives as required. Such as a two person lift.
- Train workers in safe manual handling techniques
- Ensure appropriate footwear is worn
Nail gun
- Ensure the right nail gun is selected for the task
- Regular inspection and maintenance to ensure the equipment is in good working condition
- Consider the trigger system setting and the experience level of the operator. Bump fire or multi shot mode have a higher risk of injury.
- Do not fire in line with another person or into knots in the timber
- Provide adequate instruction, training and information to workers on safe handling and use of nail guns.
- Provide direct supervision to inexperienced workers until they are deemed competent
- Discuss the risk of using nail guns on-site in your toolbox meetings
- Pre-starts should be completed every day
- Task specific PPE to be worn (Gloves, boots, safety glasses, etc)
Hand Tools
- Visually inspect the tool before use. Any sign of damage/wear and tear, then replace the tool (if it’s bent, don’t bend it back – replace it!)
- Take your time – ensure you have a firm grip on the tool and check your surroundings.
- Use the correct tool for the job
- Review your hand placement. Ensure your free hand is as far away from the area as possible. It may be needed to hold the item steady, but ensure it is far away from blades/hammerheads as possible.
- Ensure appropriate PPE is worn for the task and the equipment used (Gloves, hard hat, etc)
Slip/trips
- Slow down in adverse wear conditions – If the worksite is dangerous, consider whether it is safe to work (flooded/boggy) or to wait until it has dried
- Things such as grit tape (or similar) can help provide grip in slippery areas such as outdoor ramps
- Ensure housekeeping is maintained to remove obstacles and create clear pathways
- Wipe/dry wet flooring wherever possible (especially tiles/lino/varnished flooring)
- Plan tasks prior to carrying them out and avoid rushing
- Appropriate footwear should be worn
Of course, reach out to HazardCo and speak to one of our expert Health and Safety Advisors if you have any questions or need more support on ways to combat common incidents on-site. You can contact us on 1800 954 702.
The construction industry is known for its potential hazards and risks, and unfortunately, incidents sometimes occur. Having an incident on-site can be alarming, but your response is crucial in reducing its impact and making sure the team is safer in the future.
Remember, if you’re a HazardCo member we will support you throughout this process, just give us a call.
Incidents can range from very minor, to serious incidents. The steps below can be scaled up or down depending on the seriousness of the incident. If you have a near miss on site, this is also considered an incident. Learn more about reporting near misses.
Prioritise Health and Safety
The health and safety of the people involved in the incident should be the main concern. Immediately assess the situation to identify any ongoing dangers and take appropriate action to eliminate or minimise risks. Evacuate affected areas if necessary and provide medical assistance to injured personnel. Remember, health and safety should always come before anything else.
Secure the Scene
Once the immediate safety concerns are addressed, you may need to secure the scene to prevent further incidents or unauthorised access. Erect physical barriers, post warning signs and restrict entry if needed.
Communicate!
Maintaining clear and effective communication during and after an incident is really important.
Notify all the relevant people about the incident as soon as possible. This includes workers, supervisors, managers and contractors.
Report the incident in the HazardCo App
Using the Report Incident feature on your HazardCo App, fill out the fields to capture what happened. Your reported incident will be added to your incident register in the Hub, and HazardCo retains this for as long as you’re a member.
Notifiable Incidents
It’s important to note that some incidents are required to be notified to your Regulator. These are referred to as notifiable incidents. A notifiable incident is:
- A death
- A serious injury or illness, or
- A dangerous incident that exposes someone to a serious risk, even if no one is injured.
In the event of a notifiable incident, you need to preserve the incident site until an inspector arrives or directs you otherwise. This doesn’t prevent you from helping an injured person or making the site safe.
For more information on the Regulator in your state, head over to our help centre.
Find out what happened and why, then complete an investigation report
Investigating the incident will help to find out exactly what happened and why. We recommend talking to the people involved as well as any witnesses. For a serious incident, it’s best to speak to everyone individually.
Document all your findings in a report, including photos and relevant data. In the report, you should look at immediate causes as well as bigger issues and potential improvements to prevent future incidents. HazardCo members can use the guided Investigation Report in the Hub to identify any shortcomings or gaps that may have contributed to the incident and implement corrective actions. This may involve improving training programs, modifying procedures, upgrading equipment, or implementing new safety technologies.
Communicate some more!
Pass on what you have learnt to everyone involved. This is your opportunity to emphasise a culture of continuous improvement and learning to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Encourage open communication and create a supportive environment that encourages workers to report near misses and potential hazards without fear of repercussions.
When an incident occurs on a construction site, a swift and effective response is crucial to reduce risks and ensure the health and safety of your crew. Prioritising safety, establishing clear communication channels, securing the scene, communicating and investigating the incident can continuously improve the health and safety of everyone on site. At the end of the day, these measures protect lives, as well as contribute to the long-term success of the project and your business.
If an incident happens at work and your first thought is paperwork, you’re doing health and safety wrong.
Reporting incidents and near misses is vital to good business, and that begins with a ‘safety differently’ approach. A prevention before cure attitude. One that sees incidents reported immediately and investigated thoroughly.
Time and time again we see incidents happen and fingers pointed. What is absolutely vital for your business is a health and safety culture that involves no blame, is open, honest and educated. How do you nurture this culture? You need the right tools.
Where to document and register all incidents
You don’t need to over complicate matters here. Incidents and near misses should be registered in one convenient place that is easy to manage and draw upon when needed.
The HazardCo App has been designed with just this in mind. Simply login, report who was involved in the incident, what treatment was required, and the details surrounding what happened.
All of this information is then stored automatically as an incident register on the HazardCo Hub for you to access and view anytime.
What incidents should you report
You should report all health and safety incidents or near misses that happen at work. These can be incidents that affect you, your workers, or anyone on-site.
Why you should be reporting incidents
Every single worker plays a part in protecting ourselves and one another in the workplace. By reporting incidents you are helping identify areas where you can work together to improve health and safety, and potentially save lives.
Learning from Incidents
It’s important that when incidents occur, time is taken to review and learn from them.
Depending on the complexity of the incident, learning from it might be as simple as meeting with the team afterward to figure out what went wrong, and what can be done to stop it from happening again. Some incidents may need more investigation to help find out exactly what happened and why.
Not your job?
Yes, it is. And that’s why we are so proud of what we do. The HazardCo App and Hub puts health and safety in everyone’s hands, so everyone is protecting their workforce and working safely.
By reporting and investigating an incident, you will find the cause, but you are also likely to identify other areas where improvements can be made. Investigations aren’t about blame and punishment but learning and improving.
No workplace is perfect, and failure will occur. Let your workers know this, and that blame is off the table. This is about making sure everyone is safe and able to get on with the job at hand.
Educate to empower, and enable your workforce to sort their safety today.
HazardCo incident support: When the going gets tough, we’ll be there
All Complete, Premium and Standard HazardCo members receive incident support as part of their plan.
If you have an incident on-site, get in touch and we will help you work out if it’s notifiable to your State/ Territory Regulator and guide you through the next steps. Incidents on-site are stressful for everyone involved, so we will make sure you are following the right processes.
We’re here to help. Reach out to our team if you have any questions or need health and safety advice.
1800 954 702 | info@hazardco.com
Winter weather has the potential to hit hard, with strong winds, low temperatures, and of course, lots of rain. All of these factors can cause hazards for you and your workers. From trips and slips, to numb fingers and damaged gear and equipment, cold temperatures call for specific measures to ensure that your workplace is safe during the cold and wet winter months.
Work doesn’t stop when winter weather rolls in, so it’s important to know what to do to keep your workers safe and warm.
Winter checks and inspections
When the winter weather starts rolling through it’s important for you to inspect your workplace. If you are somewhere that experiences heavy rain, make sure that you identify and address, where possible, all wet and muddy surfaces, platforms and walkways that are used. If strong winds are forecast, check that all materials have been stacked and secured to prevent anything from falling or blowing away. It’s crucial to stress the importance of fall protection when wet and windy conditions are present. To ensure your site is safe, complete a Site Review using your HazardCo App.
Winter driving accidents
Vehicle accidents don’t just happen on the roads, they can also happen within the work site. Highlight to your team that winter driving rules for the road also apply to your workplace and it’s important that they take care while operating work vehicles and equipment. To ensure your vehicles are safe for the road, complete a Vehicle checklist using your HazardCo App.
Watch the weather
The last thing you need is for the weather to catch you by surprise. Keep an eye on the weather forecast, so your workers can prioritise the work that will be affected should the weather take a turn for the worse, and that they have the right gear to be able to do the job safely.
The right PPE makes a difference
Be vigilant when ensuring that workers are wearing proper PPE and suitable clothing when winter weather conditions are present.
- Safety helmets and hard hats should be worn where applicable, to protect workers in the case of a fall, as well as from falling objects. Using liners under headgear is a great way to stay warm and keep body heat from escaping. Use chin straps to avoid safety headgear falling off in windy conditions.
- Safety glasses and goggles can be treated with anti-fog spray to prevent vision from becoming obstructed.
- Gloves need to be carefully selected to ensure that workers will still have a good range of movement when working with tools and equipment.
- Waterproof boots with non-slip soles should be worn along with two layers of socks to keep moisture away from the skin.
Follow these tips to optimise your crew’s safety so you can enjoy a productive winter while keeping your team safe.
If a worker performs an activity that is carried out alone, in isolation or in a remote location, without close or direct supervision, this is commonly referred to as lone working.
Lone working can increase the health and safety risks of any job. Workers may be isolated from support and assistance because of where or when they’re working, or the nature of the work they are doing.
While working alongside your team may not be an option, looking out for your workers should be a top priority.
Lone working includes:
- Traveling alone as part of the job
- Traveling long distances
- Working in remote or isolated locations
- Working unsupervised for an extended period of time – this includes in a separate area away from other workers on larger sites.
- Working late night or shift work
If this sounds like your workforce, then it’s important you minimise the risks associated with lone working. This can be achieved by effective planning and consultation with your lone workers.
Identify the hazards and understand the risks
- Have a look at your site/s to determine when work may be undertaken alone, in isolation or in remote locations.
- Think about the specific tasks / activities that may be undertaken
- Consider what special work considerations may occur e.g. irregular work, breakdown and emergency work that may result in lone working
- How long and what time of day will lone working take place, considering factors such as fatigue and focus
- Have a think about what types of incidents could occur and the access to emergency services
- Are there medical conditions and/or restrictions to the worker/s
- Consider the risks to mental health due to lone working
- Think about dangerous conditions, environmental impacts and other contributing factors that may make the work more hazardous
Agree on suitable control measures
We have put together some recommendations for you to consider, in consultation with your team, when looking at ways to ensure workers can perform their job safely:
- Try and eliminate the need for lone work in the first place. Identify tasks that don’t need to be conducted alone or in isolation. Look at frequency, duration, time of day and look at suitable ways that may make it possible to have supervision or a co-worker.
- Provide information and instruction, such as safe work procedures, on how to perform a task safely whilst lone working
- Ensure workers are trained and competent in the task being completed (not an apprentice or inexperienced worker).
- Agree on a way to regularly check in on your lone workers. Ensure it’s discussed and agreed to prior to the work commencing. This could be a simple phone call, group messages or video calls at agreed intervals. Don’t underestimate the power of human interaction in these times.
- Make sure you arrange regular catch-ups with lone workers by keeping the lines of communication open with everyone. Just because they aren’t next to you on-site, doesn’t mean they should be less informed. Depending on the duration and work involved, consider getting them to check in virtually to a toolbox meeting for example so they still receive team updates and can feel connected.
- Establish limits / restrictions to work activities e.g. what tasks are prohibited from being authorised to perform – like no high risk construction work will be performed by lone workers.
- Provide First Aid training, first aid kit, correct tools/equipment and PPE to lone worker/s. If a fire extinguisher needs to be made available, check that it has been inspected within the last 6 months.
- Emergencies can be more serious if there’s no one around to assist, give first aid or call for help. Ensure emergency protocols are established, such as creating an emergency plan, and that it is suitable considering the types of emergencies which may arise. Determine how the worker/s can raise the alarm / alert someone e.g. providing duress alarms or alert systems so workers can call for emergency assistance or need to discreetly raise an alarm. Two way radios and mobile phones may also be considered.
- Establish security procedures to protect workers from violence or other factors, where applicable
- Look at GPS or location trackers for those working in isolated or remote locations.
Being proactive and prepared will help you to better manage the risks associated with lone working. The biggest tip we can give you is to look out for your team as if they were still with you on-site, or in the office.
Looking for something in particular?
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 electri...
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 s...
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 b...
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 obli...
It's important for young people starting out in construction to understand how to stay safe at work. Young workers lack experience and might not know about all the hazards yet, which could put...
Tools, vehicles, and heavy equipment all create vibrations that can affect your body. This is a normal part of any tradie's day, whether you're picking up power tools or jumping in the ute. It...
Engineered stone ban summary
Updated on 26 August 2024
On 1st July 2024 an engineered stone ban will take effect in all states and territories. The ban prohibits the use, supply, manufactu...
Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is essential gear for protecting you from inhaling hazardous substances. In this blog, we'll explore the important role of RPE, whether you are dealing w...
Lithium batteries are common in everyday life and on the worksite, their lightweight, long life, interchangeability and quick charge benefits mean that they are now used in everything from lap...
Making sure your scaffolding is safe and ready for action is key. Here are the times you have to give it a good once over:
After Installation: Right after it's set up.
At least every ...
Hazardous substances are chemicals or substances which can be toxic, corrosive and can cause harm. So it makes sense that we document what’s on-site and how much we have.
If you have hazard...
When it comes to construction sites, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone on-site is the top priority. It’s more than just wearing hard hats and high-vis vests. It involves careful pl...
