WHS Information
WHS Regulations – What can I be fined for?
A large number of building contractors are unaware of the on-the-spot- fines for breaches of work health & safety laws that took effect on 1st January 2014. The maximum penalty for exposing workers to risk of death or serious injury is now $600,000 for individual or $3million for body corporate and or 5 Years…
Read MoreWhat Insurances should my Trades have?
When engaging a subcontractor it is best practice to ensure that they have all the relevant insurances to reduce the risk of you being out-of-pocket for their actions. It’s all about risk, and how much risk you are prepared to take, especially when your best trades don’t have insurances, and you just need to get…
Read MoreBuilders beware… The “sneaky” workers on your construction sites, and how they’ll land you in WHS hot water.
When any new work site legislation comes into effect, just like the new Work Health & Safety legislation, there’s always a period of time before builders and contractors come to fully understand all the intricate little ways in which the legislation impacts them. As such, you can find yourself very vulnerable… wide open to fines…
Read MoreConstruction worker SWMS and you… Is your building company risking a hefty fine, or worse?
It may come as a shock to Site Managers across Australia, but statistics show that 75% of workers on a residential construction sites perform work that is classified as high risk, at some time during the building process. Since the introduction of new Work Health & Safety (WHS) regulations in most states of Australia, which…
Read MoreSafe Work Method Statements (SWMS)
[mt_lineheader size=”3″ align=”left”] What is a Safe Work Method Statement? [/mt_lineheader] A safe work Method Statement: Is a document prepared for a contractor Identifies work activities that are “High Risk Construction work” Defines the hazards and risks to health & safety by doing that work Describes the control measure to reduce the risks Are specific…
Read MoreDraft WHS Code of Practice for Construction released
SafeWork Australia recently released a draft model Code of Practice (Construction Work) for Public comment. You can read it and learn more here. Public comment will close on Wednesday 2 October 2013.
Read MoreWhen To Notify SafeWork
If there is an incident on your work site, you must notify the relevant authority (e.g. SafeWork SA in south Australia) when the incident meets certain criteria. Here is the list from SafeWork SA web site: ” Work Health and Safety Act 2012 Section 35 – What is a notifiable incident? notifiable incident means— (a)…
Read MoreHigh Risk Construction Work
Principle Contractors are now responsible for ensuring that Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are available for all workers who conduct high risk work on their construction site. Before work commences, the Principal Contractor or Site Manager should: ensure their own workers, who conduct high risk construction work, are given copies of SWMS , and collect…
Read MoreWHS Checklist for Site Supervisors
Before work commences: Prepare a Safety Management Plan for the site. Prepare Safe Work Method Statements for all your High Risk construction activities. Erect signage on your site. While work in progress: Do everything “reasonable practicable” to provide a safe place of work for all persons. Identify hazards; implement risk controls, monitor, and review. Consult,…
Read MoreWHS Regulation Changes
Despite industry concerns it looks like the Government is determined to implement changes to the states WHS legislation. ARE YOU PREPARED? Recommendations include the following. Requiring a principle contractor to prepare Construction Safety Management Plan (CSMP) for ALL jobs $200 000 or more. The CSMP must include the names and positions of those with specific…
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