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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:

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:

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:

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.

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: 

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)  :

 

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;

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;

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:

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:

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

WorkSafe QLD

SafeWork NSW

SafeWork SA

WorkSafe TAS

WorkSafe NT

Worksafe ACT

WorkSafe WA

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: 

Corrective actions and recommendations

Hit body on object 

Manual handling 

Nail gun 

Hand Tools 

Slip/trips 

 

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: 

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. 


Follow these tips to optimise your crew’s safety so you can enjoy a productive winter while keeping your team safe.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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.

Nail guns are used frequently on construction jobs, including in residential construction. Like all power tools, nail guns can cause serious injury. Nail gun injuries can happen due to accidental discharges whilst moving, carrying, and repositioning. Injury can also happen when fired nails strike other nails or timber knots causing them to ricochet. Incidents also occur when workers accidentally place themselves into positions where they are directly exposed to the projectile path of a nail gun.

The risk of a nail gun injury is greatly increased when using a contact trigger (bump fire or multishot) compared to using a full sequential trigger (single-shot). Most injuries occur when the nail gun is set to ‘bump fire’ mode, resulting in penetrating wounds to the operator or nearby workers.

It’s important you review the type of nail gun trigger system and the extent of information,instruction and training given to workers, particularly inexperienced and young workers.

Tips for managing the risks on site

There are a number of ways to reduce the risk of injuries. We have put together a few suggestions below and we encourage you to consult with your workers about how you can work together to ensure safe nail gun use on-site :

Note: Bump-fire nail guns potentially may be used to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries (e.g. strains and sprains) for jobs that involve high volume production and repetitive tasks. In these circumstances, ensure only highly experienced and skilled workers use these types of nail guns and implement other additional control measures to reduce the risk of injury.

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