Working Safer
Introduction
Construction site hazards are numerous and complacency towards these hazards is a leading factor in most workplace accidents. Sub-Contractors and Workers need to be reminded that safety should never be taken for granted.
Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Compliance
[enter-your-company-name-here] has a responsibility to ensure that all operate under the banner of the company, do so having met the minimum requirements necessary to operate machinery and equipment and comply with all legislative and regulatory requirements.
The company reserves the right to audit compliance and require Sub-Contractors to provide proof of compliance from time to time.
General Safety Induction
The aim of this document is to inform Sub-Contractors and workers about the hazards that exist within the construction industry. By undertaking induction training, ultimately Sub-Contractors and workers will know more about their workplace and the hazards inherent to construction work.
Workplace health and safety legislation insist that workers undertake general induction training. It also requires workers to undertake site-specific training. Site-specific induction training is designed to inform the worker of the hazards that exist on a particular construction site.
Definitions
The following sections are extracted from the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995
What is a “workplace”
A “workplace” is any place where work is, is to be, or is likely to be, performed by a worker, self-employed person or employer.
Example:
- A construction workplace.
- A vessel used for teaching (for example, scuba dive class)
- A vehicle supplied by an employer for use by a worker in the performance of work.
- A place may be a “workplace” even though it does not have to be registered or notified as a workplace under a regulation.
Who is an “employer”
An “employer” is a person who, in the course of the person’s business or undertaking, engages someone else to do work, including volunteers, other than under a contract for services, for or at the direction of the person.
Who is a “worker” and who is not
A person is a “worker” if the person does work, other than under a contract for services, for or at the direction of an employer:
Example:
- A subcontractor works under a contract for service and is not a worker for this Act.
- A person may be a “worker” even though the person is not paid for work done by the person.
Who is a “self-employed person”
A “self-employed person” is a person who –
- performs work for gain or reward; and
- is not an employer or worker.
Who is the “principal contractor”
The “principal contractor” for a construction workplace (other than a construction workplace for domestic premises) is –
- the person appointed as principal contractor by the owner of the workplace; or
- if no principal contractor is appointed – the owner of the workplace.
The “principal contractor” for a construction workplace for domestic premises is the person in control of building or demolition work at the workplace.
What is a “construction workplace”
- A “construction workplace” is a workplace where building work and civil construction work (over $80,000) or demolition work (“construction work”) is done.
- A workplace becomes a construction workplace from the beginning of the day when construction work starts at the workplace.
- A workplace stops being a construction workplace when the construction work at the workplace is finished and possession of the workplace is returned to the owner of the workplace.
When is a worker at work
A worker is at work only if the worker is at the worker’s workplace or at another workplace at the worker’s employer’s direction.
What is consultation
Consultation is about fostering cooperation and developing partnerships between government, employers and workers to ensure workplace health and safety.
Consultation is an important strategy in achieving workplace health and safety and happens in 2 ways
- at an industry level through establishing the workplace health and safety board and industry sector standing committees; and
- at the workplace level through the election by workers of workplace health and safety representatives and establishing workplace health and safety committees.