CONSTRUCTION WORKPLACE SAFETY PLANS

PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR and the CONSTRUCTION WORKPLACE SAFETY PLAN

The Principal Contractor for construction work, other than prescribed construction work, is the person appointed by the client as the Principal Contractor for the construction work.

If the client does not appoint a Principal Contractor, for the construction work, the client is taken to be the Principal Contractor for the construction work.

In Queensland, in the case of an Owner Builder site, the Owner Builder is considered the Principal Contractor.

Construction Safety Plans

DEFINTIONS

Work is construction work if it is:

work to erect, construct, extend, alter, convert, fit out, commission, renovate, repair, refurbish, disassemble or decommission a structure, or part of a structure; or

• work connected with site preparation, excavation and landscaping for work mentioned above; or
• the assembly or installation of prefabricated components to form a structure or part of a structure, for work mentioned above
• the disassembly of prefabricated components for work mentioned above
• an activity that is a prescribed activity

Prescribed construction work

The following definitions in respect to prescribed activities can be found in the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.

Demolition Work

Demolition work is a prescribed activity if the structure which is the subject of the demolition or dismantling contains pre tensioned or post tensioned structural components.

Demolition work is a prescribed activity if the demolition or dismantling of the structure involves the use of load shifting equipment (backhoe, excavator, crane, front end loader etc) or explosives or another induced collapse method.

All other demolition work is a prescribed activity unless the structure which is the subject of the demolition or dismantling is a domestic house or a structure which has the characteristics of a domestic house or is an ancillary structure associated with a domestic house.

Asbestos Removal Work

Asbestos removal work is a prescribed activity.

Construction Safety Plan

The Principal Contractor is responsible for and must prepare a written construction safety plan.

The Principal Contractor is responsible for ensuring all affected and relevant personnel and workers or visitors to the site have received a copy of the relevant construction safety plan and has discussed those aspects of the plan which are relevant to the persons work on site.

The Principal Contractor is responsible for ensuring a current construction safety plan is available for inspection to all persons on site performing construction work.

The Principal Contractor is responsible for amending and updating the construction safety plan as required and ensuring all affected persons receive advice and a copy of the amendments to the construction safety plan

The following information has come directly from the text of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulations 2008.

CONTENTS OF A CONSTRUCTION SAFETY PLAN

The construction safety plan must state:

• the address where the construction work is to be performed
• the name and address of the Principal Contractor
• the Principal Contractors ABN if applicable
• whether there is a Workplace Health and Safety Committee or Safety Officer appointed for the site
• when the construction is expected to start and finish

type of construction work to be performed

identified risk of the construction work for which the Principal Contractor has a workplace health and safety obligation

proposed control measures to prevent or minimisethe level of risk

how the Principal Contractor proposes to ensure the proposed control measures are used

Examples of the type of construction work to be performed would include:

•         Work to erect a town house
•         Work to construct a road
•         Work to demolish an office block

The Principal Contractor may use the methods described in the earlier section of this course to identify risk, decide on appropriate control measures, implement the control measures and monitor and review the effectiveness of the controls in preventing injury or exposure to the hazard.

Take a few minutes to review the 5 step risk management process.

The construction safety plan must state:

• how the Principal Contractor proposes to monitor and review the effectiveness of the proposed control measures
• the site rules
• the emergency procedures for the construction work
• how the Principal Contractor proposes to discharge their obligations to persons using areas adjacent to the place where the construction work is being performed.

Examples of site rules may include

All visitors to the site must report immediately to the site office before entering the site.

Safety boots and goggles must be worn in designated areas of this site.

A person must not consume alcohol on this site.

Do not use explosive power tools without first advising the site supervisor or the principal contractor.

Examples of emergency procedures may include:

•         If there is an emergency evacuation, a siren will sound and all personnel must assemble on the corner of McPhail Street and Beatie Roads to await further instructions and must in no circumstance, return to the site until so directed by the Site Supervisor.

•         The periodic testing of emergency lighting installations and early warning systems as appropriate.

•         The periodic testing of fire equipment

An example of controls included for the purpose of protecting occupants of adjacent properties and areas may include:

•         A gantry with a hoarding will be provided over the footpath to protect people from falling objects

The construction safety plan must state:

• The common plant to be provided
• The construction safety plan must be written in a way likely to be understood by all persons likely to be performing the construction work
• The construction safety plan must be signed and dated by the Principal Contractor.

An example of common plant could include:

• Perimeter guard railing
• 1800mm high hoarding