WHS Construction Project definition up to $450k in SA

Back in July 2015 the South Australian Government amended regulation 292 of the Work health & Safety Regulations to: 292—Meaning of construction project In this Chapter, a construction project is a project that involves construction work where the cost of the construction work is $450 000 or more. You can view the regulations from this…

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Safework NSW updates three codes of practice

Safework NSW last month updated three codes of practice under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act to provide practical guidelines for: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces: This Code applies to persons who conduct a business or undertaking, including anyone who designs, constructs, imports, supplies or installs plant or structures. The Code provides…

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Top 9 safety checks to avoid fines or a Jail term!

Builders and construction site managers  are now responsible for ensuring all contractors attending a work site are compliant with new Work Health & Safety regulations.   Here are 9 safety checks the we recommend for site managers to avoid the risk of fines, or even a jail term:   1. Builders Sign. Erect a builder’s sign…

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Builders Signage Requirements

Builders sign The Work Health & Safety Regulations require building sites to have a builders sign erected in a  position clearly visible from outside of the site, containing the following information: The builders name  (Principal Contractors Name) A contact phone number,  including an after hours phone number The location of the site office (if any).…

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What activities require a High Risk Work Licence

A High Risk Work license is required for any of the following work activities: Crane and hoist operation Dogging and rigging work Forklift operation Pressure equipment operation Scaffolding work. Builders (or Principal Contractors)  are required to check and record the licence details, when a contractor performs any of these tasks on their work site, and…

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How to review your contractors’ SWMS

If you engage contractors that perform high risk construction work, then you need to collect and review their Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), to avoid on-the-spot fines of $432 (for individual) and $2160 (for company). Here’s what you should look for: The front page of the SWMS contains: ABN and business name of the contractor…

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WHS Regulations – What can I be fined for?

A large number of building contractors are unaware of the on-the-spot- fines for breaches of work health & safety laws that took effect on 1st January 2014. The maximum penalty for exposing workers to risk of death or serious injury is now   $600,000 for individual or $3million for body corporate and or 5 Years…

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Which Trades need a building contractors licence?

Which Trades ? A business that performs any work which contributes to the construction of a building will need to have a “building work contractor’s licence”, often referred to as a “builder’s licence” or “contractor’s licence”, issued by state governments in Australia. “Building work”, including all work inside and on the outside of the building, including…

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Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)

What is a Safe Work Method Statement? A safe work Method Statement: Is a document prepared for a contractor Identifies work activities that are “High Risk Construction work” Defines the hazards and risks to health & safety by doing that work Describes the control measure to reduce the risks Are specific for a site Must…

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