TRADE TALK SCOTT CAM Man on a mission WEAR, WHERE? Whether you do it to meet compliance or to protect your business and people (or all of the above) I urge you: keep your construction site safe. You might not be too worried about ...EVEN IF EVERYONE Do you prepare, inform and work health and safety regulations ONSITE HAS BEEN IN THE review site-specific WHS if you don’t have a very big team orBUSINESS FOR YEARS, IT’S management plans (safety plans)? you rarely see a safety inspector, Under WHS Legislation all construction but it’s important you stay compliant year-UP TO YOU TO MAKE SURE projects valued at $250,000 or greater need round to avoid fines, accidents, law suits YOUR FELLOW WORKERS to have a written WHS management plan and – worst-case scenario – death. AND EMPLOYEES ARE prepared by the principal contractor, usually These are very real risk factors and even the builder, before work on the construction if everyone onsite has been in the businessDOING THE RIGHT THING project commences. for years, it’s up to you to make sure your A safety plan sets out the arrangements fellow workers and employees are doing the to let employees know what they need to for managing site safety and keeps you right thing. wear, and where? assured the right processes are in place. Do you use personal protective Remember, all workers operating plant This can be particularly helpful with more equipment (PPE)? equipment or power tools must also follow complex construction projects with many the manufacturer’s instructions on PPE contractors completing a variety of building All workers onsite need to wear protective during operation. activities, but any project – big or small – footwear and clothing, including: can benefit from a safety plan. eye protection such as goggles, an eye Do you conduct regular site safety The WHS management plan should be • shield or glasses where there is a risk of a inspections? prepared by the principal contractor before foreign object striking the eye Construction sites require constant the project begins and should be easy to •hearing protection such as ear muffs monitoring and observation to keep on understand for those working onsite. or plugs where equipment makes top of any safety issues. Completed It is incredibly important for you, your excessive noise correctly, site inspections will identify safetybusiness, and your projects that any and •head protection such as a hard hat or violations, liability issues and risks withinall risks are identified, understood and helmet where there is a risk of injury tothe business. addressed or planned for. Not only are you the head from a falling object or overhead Use site safety inspections as a proactivelegally bound to meet your local compliance moving plant. safety tool to prevent injury and to help yourequirements, but it will help you minimise To make things easy, why not install understand site risks and inconsistencies onrisk, business exposure and injury to people signage wherever risks have been identifiedyour projects. – and trust me, that’s worth it. HAS A LOT TO OFFER You can become a builder. You can learn to manage a small business. You can get qualified in workplace safety. YOURGOALS IN The list is endless! And we have SET the courses and workshops MOTION WITH HIA you need to reach your goal. For full program details contact us on 1300 650 620, email us at ACT_training@hia.com.au or visit hia.com.au BUILDING NEWS ISSUE 3/2018P9 1901 :oN redivorP lanoitaN