Construction work has the potential to seriously injure or kill a person and therefore, it is important to manage risks associated with the construction work. Construction work includes any work on a structure involving:
- maintenance and repair
- alteration and renovation
- construction and commissioning
- conversion, refurbishment and fitting out
- decommissioning, demolition and dismantling.
In addition, the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (WHS Regulation) provides a special category for high risk construction work. This includes work involving a risk of falling more than two metres, asbestos, explosives, demolition, traffic, diving, extreme temperatures, contaminated or flammable atmospheres, energised electrical installations as well as work in confined spaces, shafts and trenches and work on gas, chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines. Refer to the WHS Regulation for more details on high risk construction work.
Safe work method statements (SWMS) must be prepared for high risk construction work and workers must comply with the SWMS when carrying out the work.
The WHS Regulation also sets out specific duties for the management of risks.
Person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU - the new term that includes employers) has a primary duty of care to ensure workers and others are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
A PCBU with management or control of the workplace, must ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, that the workplace is secure from unauthorised access where construction work is being carried out.
A PCBU must also ensure that general construction induction training is provided to any workers they engage. Construction workers must be able to show their valid general construction induction training card or certificate (if they have recently completed the training) if requested.
Principal contractors
The principal contractor must ensure a WHS management plan is prepared before construction work begins on the project (where the cost of the construction work is $250,000 or more). Workers must be informed of the plan and it must be reviewed and revised as necessary to ensure it remains up to date.
Excavation work
There are also specific requirements for when excavation work is carried out, such as obtaining information on underground services and ensuring this information is made available to all workers.
Electrical equipment on construction and demolition sites
Electrical equipment and installations on construction and demolition sites must comply with Australian Standard AS/NZS 3012:2010 Electrical installations - Construction and demolition sites.
Further information
The draft code of practice Managing risks in construction work provides more information.
Call 13 10 50 for more information about transitional arrangements for construction work.