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Workplace Health & Safety
A word from the safety regulator Construction blitz on falls from heights
SafeWork NSW targets falls from heights risks
Falls from heights are the No.1 killer on construction sites in NSW. Too many tradies are killed or seriously injured on construction sites, with devastating effects on families, friends and co-workers.
The number of falls from heights incidents reported to SafeWork NSW tripled from 2013 to 2016, with most incidents involving workers in the construction industry. In one such incident, a carpenter fell four metres from scaffolding and was impaled, in another case an electrician fell three metres from a ladder and died from head injuries. More recently, a first year apprentice roofer died after falling six metres through polycarbonate roof sheeting. In response to the alarming rise in falls related incidents, last year SafeWork NSW introduced new on-the spot penalties where employers can be fined up to $3,600 for failing to control the risk of falls adequately. NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Matt Kean, also launched a 12-month Falls from Heights blitz on construction sites. SafeWork NSW Inspectors will target suburbs state-wide where there is a high concentration of building work with an aim to flooding the area with pro-active inspections, securing compliance where necessary and educating employers about how to protect workers from falls. Blitz findings so far Inspectors have already visited over 460 sites since November last year. The visits revealed that more than 50 per cent of sites had unsafe scaffolding, more than 40 per cent didn’t have proper edge protection, and nearly 25 per cent didn’t provide an adequate site safety induction to their workers. Additionally, more than 50 per cent of the scaffolds were unsafe due to missing ledgers, planks or hop ups, 19 per cent were not adequately supported or tied to the building and 28 per cent had inadequate access/egress to scaffold decks. With regards to working on roofs or floors, more 40 per cent of sites had inadequate edge protection and more than a quarter did not have a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for high-risk construction work. When conducting inspections, SafeWork has a range of options available to secure work health and safety compliance including issuing Improvement Notices, Prohibition Notices and Penalties (on-the-spot fines). Penalty Notices are issued based on the seriousness of the risk observed and/or the duty holders’ safety and compliance history. These tools allow inspectors to implement a proportionate response to the level of risk or non-compliance observed. In alignment with industry sentiment, Safework NSW aims to ensure a level playing field for those who are doing the right thing. Issue Two | April/May 2018 | MBA NSW 29
Since November 2017 SafeWork have issued over 1,000 notices regarding falls from heights risks, with more than 120 of these being onthe-spot fines. What you can do: There are many ways you can help avoid workplace tragedies and ensure your workers go home in one piece at the end of the day, starting with eliminating the need for working at heights where possible. If you can’t eliminate working at heights, the work must be conducted: • on a surface that is structurally capable of supporting the loads on it, and • has barriers around its perimeter and any openings to prevent a fall, and • the gradient and surface is even and readily negotiable, and • a safe means of entry and exit is provided. Some typical examples of fall protection are scaffolding, perimeter screens, guarding, and/or fencing. Harness systems, such as fall restraint or fall arrest devices should only be used as a last resort. Ladders are a common tool of trade on construction sites, however statistics show they are inherently dangerous if not used appropriately as per their intended design and with great care. Inspector Tips – Safe Work Method Statements Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are required for any construction work that involves a risk of a person falling more than two metres. This is one of the categories identified as High Risk Construction Work (HRCW). Construction Inspector Jamie Hinton said: “SWMS are an important industry tool that must be used when there is HRCW taking place.” The main things an inspector is looking for on a SWMS is that: • You have identified the hazards and risks to health and safety • You have planned and implemented the controls identified in the SWMS • It’s site specific • It’s made available and is understandable to the workers, and • It must be revised if site conditions or circumstances change. “It doesn’t have to be war and peace, sometimes simple and clear is best. Besides ensuring you have the physical controls in place, planning and talking to your workers and contractors about safety are the most important things you can do.” SafeWork NSW Inspectors continue to blitz construction sites throughout 2018. If you need information on how to work safely at heights or a copy of the Code of Practice; Managing the risk of falls at Workplaces, visit www.safework.nsw.gov.au or call 13 10 50.
TALK – PLAN – PROVIDE
Here are some things you can do to address the risks of working at heights: TALK – conduct toolbox talks (or similar) with all your workers and discuss how best to address the falls issues you have on site. Also ensure all workers have been site inducted and discuss falls issues in the induction process. PLAN – develop SWMS and keep them up-to-date. Ensure that all workers have read, understood and signed them. PROVIDE – the appropriate physical fall protection measures such as scaffolding, temporary rails, void covers etc.
Who’s most at risk
When we looked at our most serious construction industry falls from heights incidents and fatalities over the last three years to 2016/17, we found that: • 50% of workers fell off either scaffolds, ladders or roofs (off or through), • 40% of those who fell were either builders, carpenters, formworkers, roofers, labourers or painters, • Most of the workers fell between two and four metres – or a single storey, • The age range with the highest number of falls was 25 to 34, however, those over 45 were most likely to die from their injuries.
