Editorial
WorkSafe’s Senior Construction Advisor Tony Cockerell reminds builders and contractors to start thinking now about what they need to do to make their sites and workplaces safe over the holiday period.
Builders, site supervisors and contractors should be starting now rather than waiting to the last minute to review and implement controls make their sites are safe for the holiday period.
Unattended construction sites can expose the public to significant hazards and risks, including but not limited to:
A thorough site clean-up, ensuring existing site safety measures are up to scratch and appropriate site security is in place will go a long way in ensuring public safety during the holidays.
Site security fencing and gates should be inspected and defects rectified prior to the holidays.
Additional bracing may be required to ensure the fence can withstand wind loads, especially fences with signs or shade cloth is fitted.
Partially built structures such as walls and roofs need to be adequately supported and braced to prevent collapse and can handle strong winds and bad weather.
Voids in floors should be securely covered, or the area barricaded off to prevent access. Excavations where possible, should be back filled.
Where possible, remove all equipment and machinery from the site or otherwise secure it to minimise any risk of access by unauthorised people. Chemicals and potentially harmful substances should also be removed from the site.
The main switch for the construction electricity wiring should be switched off and the main switchboard locked.
Uninstalled roofing and other loose construction materials have the potential to turn into missiles if not stored and secured correctly.
Ensure you are not called back to site these holidays to deal with the aftermath of an incident by being proactive and getting your sites ready for the holiday shutdown.
Source: WorkSafe Victoria
Unattended construction sites can expose the public to significant hazards and risks, including but not limited to:
- Being struck by collapsing site fencing or falling over, walking into or running into fallen fencing
- Being struck by objects picked up by wind
- Falling off partially built structures or scaffolding
- Falling through unprotected voids and into open excavations
- Being crushed by the collapse of incomplete or unstable structures
- Electric shock from live power
- Lacerations from sharp objects
A thorough site clean-up, ensuring existing site safety measures are up to scratch and appropriate site security is in place will go a long way in ensuring public safety during the holidays.
Site security fencing and gates should be inspected and defects rectified prior to the holidays.
Additional bracing may be required to ensure the fence can withstand wind loads, especially fences with signs or shade cloth is fitted.
Partially built structures such as walls and roofs need to be adequately supported and braced to prevent collapse and can handle strong winds and bad weather.
Voids in floors should be securely covered, or the area barricaded off to prevent access. Excavations where possible, should be back filled.
Where possible, remove all equipment and machinery from the site or otherwise secure it to minimise any risk of access by unauthorised people. Chemicals and potentially harmful substances should also be removed from the site.
The main switch for the construction electricity wiring should be switched off and the main switchboard locked.
Uninstalled roofing and other loose construction materials have the potential to turn into missiles if not stored and secured correctly.
Ensure you are not called back to site these holidays to deal with the aftermath of an incident by being proactive and getting your sites ready for the holiday shutdown.
Source: WorkSafe Victoria
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