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Take Part in House Construction Industry Mentor Programme

Are you a long time member of the construction industry with skills you wish to pass on to the next generation of construction workers, well a new program helps large and medium construction businesses do just that.

Those in large and medium construction firms are being encouraged to assist small businesses improve safety. The program was launched at Western Sydney Nirimba TAFE Quakers Hill recently.

The initiative will see ten medium and large construction firms mentor several smaller builders from across the state of New South Wales, assisting them to find solutions to their workplace safety issues.

WorkCover’s Work Health and Safety Division Acting General Manager, Peter Dunphy, explained that the House Construction Industry Mentor Program provides an opportunity for construction businesses to show their safety expertise.

Although we are aware of the importance of safety, it is often difficult for businesses to map out the specific steps they need to take to improve their own company’s safety, especially while dealing with the day to day running of the business.

Dunphy also highlighted that the housing construction sector has more than twice the number of worker compensation claims for permanent disability of any other industry. That is why safety in this sector is of such importance, if current safety initiatives and methods are improving safety in this sector, new innovative methods need to be developed and implemented, such as the new mentoring system.

The initiative benefits both parties, as Mr Dunphy explains:

“As part of an industry action plan to improve safety and productivity in the industry, WorkCover is partnering with 10 medium and large construction companies so they can share their knowledge and expertise with a small construction business and help them improve safety on their construction sites.

“The mentors understand the work health and safety challenges mentees face on a daily basis and can suggest innovative solutions to safety, injury management and workers compensation issues.

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/09/house-construction-industry-mentor-program-2/#.VBnQyPmSyRw

Dunphy explained that mentors would work hand in hand with their mentees to tackle the particular areas of concern for their business in addition to 4 issues that have been identified as particularly relevant to the housing construction industry…

“As well as this, mentors will focus on the four major issues that have been identified in the house construction industry, falls through voids, the movement of people and materials on-site, sun safety and recovery at work after a workplace injury.”

To be a mentee, builders, carpenters or plasterers they subcontract to must have less than 20 full-time workers and should build less than 12 single or double-storey houses per year.

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/09/house-construction-industry-mentor-program-2/#.VBnQyPmSyRw

The housing construction industry is a major contributor to the NSW economy. Some $37,9 billion of the state’s economy comes from the housing construction industry and therefore it is one of the most valuable to the state, as such we cannot afford to ignore its high injury rates.

Another important factor associated with the housing construction sector safety is training, beginning with General Construction Safety training in the form of the White Card. Small companies, as well as bigger construction firms need to ensure that every person they employ has completed this vital training to in order to maintain a good safety record.

White Card WA: Building Growth fuelling Tradie Shortage

Beginning a career in construction or returning to the industry because of the vast opportunities becoming available?

There has never been a better time to work in the construction industry in Oz and in Western Australia in particular with home building approvals going through the roof.

In fact as a recent article on Yahoo News points out, building growth is booming and subsequently leading to a shortage in tradies.

A surge in the home building sector has led to a shortage of bricklayers and roof carpenters, a phenomenon which has also sent rates through the roof as the industry battles to find workers to fill this demand.

The article’s writer points out that the biggest builder in the state, BGC is now employing more bricklayers than it ever did. Some specialist trades have even complained about difficulties attracting and retaining staff in these boom-like conditions.

The size of the state’s construction industry has also hit a record high. More than 145,710 people are now employed by the construction industry in WA.

While conditions may ease later in this year, now is the time to look for employment in the industry. Below is an excerpt from the article which highlights why this is such a good time to be employed in the construction industry,

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures out yesterday showed new home activity in WA rose 5.1 per cent in the September 2014 quarter with 8357 new residential builds. The State also recorded its strongest quarter for new builds of multi-unit dwellings.

The activity was mirrored across the nation…

Source: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/26012165/tradie-shortage-as-building-booms/

BGC Residential chief executive Kelvin Ryan said the construction market has been building for a year and those who wanted to work in the state’s housing industry are now doing so. He went on to state:

"The biggest single thing that's been an issue has been maintaining the trade base," he said.

"We've got more bricklayers working with us than we ever had before. Typically what happens is it (demand) goes from bricklayers to roof carpenters and ceramic tilers. There's pressure on rates, there's no doubt there's always pressure on rates.

"Unfortunately, there is an unchallenged rule in construction that time is of the essence and you have to play the game and pay the rates to get the construction completed."

Source: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/26012165/tradie-shortage-as-building-booms/

Geoff Cooper of the Master Builders Association Western Australia, the largest industry body in the state, said that there has been a huge demand for bricklayers over the last year. This has resulted in rates being increased as much as 20 per cent.

The huge workload that many builders have been faced with means that completion of projects has also been delayed. He explained:

"Builders still have substantial order books and there has been an increase in construction over the past 12 months, which has pushed out construction times by more than 10 weeks," he said.

Source: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/26012165/tradie-shortage-as-building-booms/

Anyone interested in working in the industry must in possession of valid White Card. This is the nationally recognised construction induction accreditation which can be obtained by completing a short online course – this not the only way the course can be completed but it is the most convenient. Also if you have been working construction without this qualification, you and your employer face penalties, you must complete the course today.

Symposium on Handling Musculoskeletal Disorders to be Held in Brisbane

Serious musculoskeletal disorders are common among certain tradespeople particularly within the construction industry, yet manual handling hazards which cause these disorders over time are some of the most ignored hazards.

In fact it seems musculoskeletal disorders are common across all industries and are also neglected by most blue collar workers. That is why Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has announced a symposium they will be hosting to discuss musculoskeletal disorders.

A common misconception is that only labourers such as bricklayers suffer from musculoskeletal disorders but anyone can suffer from these disorders because of incorrect manual handling techniques.

The symposium will be held in March 2015 and will feature famous speakers and experts in the field of manual handling.

The event will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 3-4 March 2015 and health and safety professionals have been advised to diarise the event. Around two hundred and fifty health and safety professionals are expected to attend.

On their website Workplace Health and Safety Queensland stated that the symposium will showcase the best practice approaches and will also highlight the importance of managing MSDs.

Speakers from across the nation and abroad will be discussing key issues facing companies when managing MSDs risks and the benefits of addressing these risks.

According to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland revealed recent data that MSDs account for more than half (61 per cent) of all serious compensation claims in Queensland.

Although the figure is dropping, tackling musculoskeletal disorders still remains one of the greatest issues for Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

The following excerpt from a post on SafetyCulture.com.au describes some of the key objectives of the 2013-22 Musculoskeletal Disorder strategy include:

to reduce exposure to hazards and risks

to change culture

to improve work health and safety infrastructure

to promote an integrated approach to health and well being

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/08/symposium-handling-musculoskeletal-disorders/#.VAYWNPmSyRw

The symposium similarly to a recent conference at which Workplace Health and Safety Queensland presented will focus on safe manual handling. The Australian Association of Manual Handling of People SAFER Handling Conference was held recently.

On their website Workplace Health and Safety Queensland explained the following about the conference,

Speakers shared innovations in people handling programs, including wider application of ceiling hoists and other assistive equipment; coaching and training of manual handling champions and peer leadership; systems of work and future of room design and equipment options. Information was also presented on the safer management of bariatric people handling; managing hazardous manual tasks in an uncontrolled environment, and barriers and motivators in good people handling systems.

Read more at: http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/publications/safe/aug14/musculoskeletal-disorders-symposium/index.htm#.VAnSl_mSyRw

More information about the symposium can be obtained from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland at http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/publications/safe/aug14/musculoskeletal-disorders-symposium/index.htm#.VAnSl_mSyRw

Taking Part in Movember Construction Industry Challenge

The Movember Construction Industry Challenge 2014 is coming up and like the name suggests it involves men growing their moustaches for the month of November in support of men’s health in the construction industry.

In the past the initiative has been extremely successful particularly among construction workers in raising funds towards men’s health causes.

This year’s event invites members of the construction industry to “face off” in the search for the ultimate moustache.

For those who aren’t familiar with the concept the excerpt below from a post on Infolink.com.au explains:

Movember is opening up the 'Industry Challenge' competition to the Construction Industry for the first time, after receiving overwhelming support from the sector in previous years. Movember's Construction Challenge joins 10 other official Challenges that aim to unite some of Australia's largest companies across a number of industries.

The Movember Construction Industry Challenge offers engineers, project managers, builders and construction workers across Australia an opportunity to showcase their specially grown and skilfully crafted moustache.

Source: http://www.infolink.com.au/articles/news/australian-construction-industry-to-face-off-for-movember-mo-challenge-n2508223

The Industry Challenge event is incentivised by offering prizes for various competitions including best moustache, highest fundraising team and individual to raise the most money.

The ultimate message behind the campaign is one of men’s health in the construction industry. This is significant because while we often stress the importance of safety in the workplace, we seldom consider health especially in the construction industry. This initiative aims to promote a healthy workplace.

The article also highlights the big name companies that have been long-time supporters of the Movember initiative including Fluor Australia, John Holland, Lend Lease, Laing O'Rourke and Theiss. These companies have personally participated in the event as well as encouraging their staff to do the same.

The post goes on to explain why,

Tom Betts, Movember Business Engagement Manager explains that Movember is a fun and positive initiative that enables companies to engage staff across the business, help build camaraderie and increase morale.

Long-time Movember supporter and Fluor Australia employee, Michael Henderson believes the moustache is more than just a fashion statement. Observing how his office always looks forward to Movember, he said the campaign combines a bit of fun with some worthy fundraising and health awareness. He adds that their annual Mo-Parade gives all the participants a chance to sport their latest Mo creation in the silliest way possible, giving the whole office a good laugh as they choose the best on show. The ongoing updates of their friendly fundraising battle with the other offices would often lead to conversations about men's health, meeting the Movember campaign’s goals.

Source: http://www.infolink.com.au/articles/news/australian-construction-industry-to-face-off-for-movember-mo-challenge-n2508223

This November will be the 12th time this event is held here in Oz and globally encouraging people around the world to support men’s health. Men are encouraged to register, grow their moustache and then celebrate at the end of the month event. Women can also offer their support.

Men who take part in the event and grow their moustache for 30 days will become ambassadors for the cause and help raise awareness for men’s health issues particularly prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. It is also a way of raising funds toward these causes.

Those interested in joining the 2014 challenge can do so by visiting movember.com

Transport Construction Activity to Soar in 2015

2015 Promises to be a good year for construction activity and transport construction is also a part of the sector that is expected to soar.

Who can forget Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s promise to become the “infrastructure prime minister”? In keeping with this promise transport remains one of the sectors in the building and construction industry that is booming and is expected to continue doing so over the next few years.

According to the Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) the combined dollar value of work done on roads and non-road forms of transport infrastructure to come in at around $29.533 billion and $30.164 billion in 2014/15 and 2015/16, that includes railways, bridges, airports and harbours.

In an article on Sourceable.net the ACIF were quoted as stating that work on roads are likely to increase from $15.686 billion in 2013/14 to almost $20 billion by 2016/17.

The ACIF goes on to predict that work on other forms of transport to fall $13.384 billion in 2013/14 to $10.233 billion in 2016/17.

The ACIF also expects a shift back toward public transport in the state of Victoria following the election into power of the more public transport orientated Labour government.

Ultimately the growth in the population is expected to be the driving force of the boom in the construction sector. In addition to meeting accommodation needs for the growing population, there will also be a need for infrastructure development and expansion to support this population.

The article on Sourceable.net goes on to explain:

Aside from federal government rhetoric about ‘infrastructure prime ministers’ and ‘putting cranes all over the sky,” as well as a perceived need to boost an otherwise mostly subdued economy, the fundamental long-term driver of demand in this area revolves around a dual need to accommodate expansion of a population which is growing at around three times the pace of that in the United States, Europe or China and to eat into an ‘infrastructure deficit’, which Infrastructure Partnerships Australia a couple of years back put at $700 billion. In Western Sydney alone, road and transport systems are expected to have to cope with around one million more people between now and 2025.

See more at: http://sourceable.net/market-report-transport-construction-boom-set-to-roll-on/#sthash.CwxmKJ0l.dpuf

The ACIF also predicts that the government will continue to fund infrastructure construction by getting rid of public assets and welcoming investment from the private sector. The article went on to explain:

Moreover, challenges associated with tight government finances are being overcome by a push toward selling off public sector assets and a greater willingness on the part of governments to welcome private sector investment in public infrastructure.

See more at: http://sourceable.net/market-report-transport-construction-boom-set-to-roll-on/#sthash.CwxmKJ0l.dpuf

The growth in the transport infrastructure sector means that employment figures are also rising in the sector. This has given rise to fears that the industry will not be able to meet the demand for more construction especially as residential and commercial activity also picks up around the nation.

Estimates from the Department of Employment, the construction industry needs more than 83.500 additional workers between now and November 2018 to sustain growth.

Anyone looking to get into the construction industry (whether in transport construction, commercial construction or residential construction) needs to begin by completing the White Card induction course.

The “Right” Way to Ensure a Ladder is Safe before Use

An incorrect assumption often made by construction workers, as well as the general public is that using a ladder is simple and doesn’t require any safety precautions, if this were true we wouldn’t have as many fatal ladder falls occurring as we do. In fact the number of falls which occur as a result of work from ladders is around 43 per cent of all falls.

While general construction safety training which is mandatory for all workers in the construction field does cover work from heights and ladders, this basic safety knowledge is useful but should be elaborated on by employers to ensure workers whose job involves ladder use are aware of the hazards, risks and controls necessary for safe use.

Because people commonly use ladders even in their homes, they incorrectly assume that they don’t require safety training on the construction site. This type of complacency about ladder safety is what results in accidents, many of them fatal.

Many construction employers have opted for the elimination of this hazard (ladders) completely and replaced them with other methods of working from height which they deem more “safe”, such as scaffolding use. However when this is not feasible and ladders cannot be replaced, the risks associated with ladder use should be assessed and control measures should be implemented to ensure safe use.

It is important that ladders are properly inspected every time they are used and secured properly on both the top and the bottom. Ensuring that the ladder cannot move laterally is one of the most important yet commonly ignored considerations.

According to one work from height expert (from Safety blog SimplifiedSafety.com) ensuring ladders are properly secured should begin at the base and work towards the top. The base should obviously be set on a firm and level surface. Also ladders shouldn’t be set on surfaces that are slippery, have just been waxed or on mulch beds etc. The base should be stable.

Workers should also look around the base of the ladder to check if there is any debris, materials, cords etc. that could present a tripping hazard. Sometimes devices can be used which stabilise a ladder on an uneven surface.

The following excerpt from the post on SimplifiedSafety.com explains a commonly overlooked part of ladder safety – securing the top of the ladder:

Now that you’re on a firm, level, stable surface with safety feet intact and a clear area around your base, we skip all the way to the top. If you’re going to have lateral movement of the ladder that causes you to fall, it’s not going to come from you being at the bottom and it probably won’t come from you being at the middle. Most likely it will occur while you are toward the top.

So, how do we make sure this doesn’t happen? Even with the perfect surface, your weight and motion could cause something to go wrong (and we’re assuming you haven’t even overloaded yourself with tools, causing you to exceed the ladder’s limits). There are a few things that could help, the most important of which is required every time you set a ladder: secure the top. This should not be done using the ladder’s own lanyard. This should not be done by tying something to the bottom or middle of the ladder. This needs to be done by securing the top of the ladder to the structure up which you are climbing by tying it to something sturdy with rope or wire, using attached hooks, or through some other means.

Read more at: http://simplifiedsafety.com/blog/how-to-properly-stabilize-a-ladder/

More information on getting a White Card

Unions Claim Self-Regulation Causing Building Site Deaths

We all know how important fall protection is on building sites particularly high rise construction sites, so the fact that regulations are being ignored when it comes to fall protection is concerning.

Falling is one of the leading causes of accidents on work sites and falls from heights any height above 2 metres can have serious consequences which is why unions are calling for tougher safety regulations and enforcement to stop workers dying because of fatal fall injuries. According to the unions more workers will be senselessly killed unless self-regulation is scrapped.

According to Safe Work Australia falls are the major cause of death and injury in Aussie workplaces and of those 800,000 employees that work from heights almost 8000 are injured every year. In addition at least 26 die every year, this includes people from the cleaning and maintenance as well as trade industries.

According to the Working at Heights Association’s secretary Gordon Cadzow, regulators aren’t enforcing the safety standards. According to Cadzow, within this industry falling is the second largest cause of death which is why it needs to be more strictly regulated and enforced.

Case Against Self-Regulation in the Industry

An incident which took place in 2011 is an example of a fall from height which could have been avoided. A 45 year old builder in West Australia was killed in 2011 when he was working on a high shed during his first day on a new job. The man was on a construction site near Esperance and while working from a height he fell through a skylight, plummeting to his death.

Following an investigation the builder’s employer was issued with a hefty fine for failing to follow the correct safety procedures. Despite the $65,000 fine, Will’s family still believes that his death could have been avoided if safety standards were more strictly policed by regulators.

The unions are concerned that people’s lives are being risked when they work from heights, having to be held up by simply ropes and anchors. Unfortunately the certification system in place is unreliable particularly due to it being unregulated. The union is concerned that abseil anchor points are mostly left untested. Some have described it as a hit and miss type game, where worker’s lives are being jeopardised.

According to a member of the Australian Rope Access Association, Peter Ferguson, too many companies are being allowed to breach safety compliance. As he explains there are regulations in place however they aren’t being enforced and policed as they should be which is why many incidents are falling through the cracks.

When it comes to the construction industry, work from heights is one of the issues that is covered by the White Card Course. Everyone who begins working in the construction industry will at some time or the other being exposed to fall hazards as well as numerous other hazards. To ensure they are adequately prepared to handle work around these hazards, they need to be properly educated and trained on work from height safety, fulfilled by White Card training.

For employers, in addition to ensuring all workers received White card training as well as any additional specific training, it is important that a safe system of work is developed and followed. That involves identifying the hazards, assessing the risks and controlling it.

The first step is identifying the hazard, for example working from a height such as a roof or scaffolding.

The next step would involve assessing the risk by taking into account, the height at which the task is being performed, the condition of the supporting surface, the surface below the workers and the injury they could cause if fallen upon, amount of experience the worker involved has, weather conditions of outdoor sites and the duration of the task.

Finally employers must control the risk. When it comes to fall protection, measures should be developed to suit the particular task and the severity of the risk. In developing emergency procedures, the different types of emergency and rescue scenarios that might arise should be considered.

The hazard, in this case working from a height, should be eliminated if possible. If this is not possible the work method should be replaced with something less hazardous such as working from the ground. Obviously this isn’t always possible and the hazard has to be isolated, for example implemented barriers to separate workers from fall hazards. The next level of control comes from implementing engineering controls or administrative controls. Finally implementing personal protective equipment is the final but completely necessary process in fall protection.

Unsafe Scaffolding puts Workers and Public at Risk

A company in Portsmouth, London has been discovered putting workers and the public at risk over a number of months.

Graham Pedaltey and his company, Graham’s Scaffolds have been fined after a series of scaffolds were found to be riddled with dangerous faults and have been operating that way for months.

In a recent article on PPConstructionSafety.com an incident involving the dangerous scaffolding was highlighted. Apparently the lives of workers was be jeopardised by the builder who was using scaffolding several metres high with potentially lethal defects that could have resulted in fatal falls for workers from unguarded platforms or through wooden planks that had rotted.

The case was heard before the Portsmouth Magistrate who heard how Health and Safety investigators discovered a “particularly hazardous scaffold”. A member of the public had reported the dangerous scaffold to the health and safety executive.

The court was told that the scaffold erected on 18 October had been used despite numerous faults such a lack of ties connecting the scaffolding to the building. This meant that the scaffolding was not secured and was more likely to collapse.

The other faults identified included:

Bases - absent on many uprights and scaffold could have sunk into the ground;

Guard rails – few guard rails on the lifts or working platforms;

Bracing – no bracing on the middle scaffold on the middle working platform; and

Boards – many rotten and damaged which could have broken under workers’ feet.

Source: http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/newsdesk/2015/01/09/scaffolding-riddled-with-dangerous-faults/

The builder had been issued with warnings from the health and safety executive in the past and for the same reason – poor scaffolding twice in September 2013.

The court also heard that the builder, Graham Pedaltey had been relying on his knowledge from training he had received in 1979.

Following the hearing, the Health and Safety Executive inspector, Peter Snelgrove explained of the incident,

“Mr Pedaltey not only erected numerous unsafe scaffolds, but also relied on his knowledge from training delivered in 1979 – more than 30 years earlier.

He has now been prohibited from erecting scaffolds until he has completed further training to acquaint himself with up-to-date safety legislation and scaffolding standards.

His failings created a risk of death or serious personal injury. Scaffolds are temporary structures and their integrity and safety must be ensured to, in turn, safeguard the workers and passers-by.”

Source: http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/newsdesk/2015/01/09/scaffolding-riddled-with-dangerous-faults/

Scaffolding is a common part of any construction and renovation work so the thought of a builder not even being aware of the risks and what the law says about scaffolding is frightening.

Scaffolding collapses have in the past resulted in the injury and deaths of workers as well as members of the public simply passing by, because of falling components.

Builders need to be sure that the scaffolding on their sites are being erected, used and dismantled correctly. They also need to be aware of the risks and their responsibilities under the law so that they do not break OHS laws, by failing to provide workers with a safe worksite and safe system of work.

US and Oz Housing Construction Gains Momentum

According to numerous reports US housing construction has experienced a growth spurt in July after a 2 month decline.

Similarly to the Australian housing construction industry, the US seems to be experiencing a boom in their housing construction sector with July figures hitting an 8 month high.

On Tuesday it emerged that US Construction had grown by 15.7 per cent in July seasonally adjusted at an annual rate of 1.09 million homes, according to that country’s Commerce Department following declines of 4 per cent in June and a 7.4 per cent decline in May. The US hasn’t seen growth like this since November.

Like Oz, the US applications for building permits grew which is a good indication of future activity. The July figures showed growth in the single family home construction, rising 8.3 per cent and apartment construction which grew by 33 per cent.

In fact economists noted that July’s growth was even better than they predicted, which is a good indication ofsustained future growth.

The following excerpt from a post on News.com.au explains how the recent growth in the US housing market and decline in mortgage rates were boosting construction industry growth,

Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said solid job growth and a recent decline in mortgage rates were helping boost construction. But he said weak wage growth and tight lending standards were still depressing activity, especially among first-time buyers.

A report Monday indicated homebuilders are feeling more confident about their sales prospects, a hopeful sign that home construction and sales of newly built homes could pick up after stalling in recent months.

Read more at: http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/us-home-construction-jumps-157-per-cent/story-e6frfkur-1227030068072

The article went on to describe how economists are looking forward to a rebound in the housing construction industry considering that the US economy has been boosting employment rates, gains apparently topped 200,000 jobs for six straight months through July.

Australia has been experiencing a boom in the housing construction sector with some states experiencing more growth than others.

The demand for housing coupled with improvements in the economy and an increased number of building approvals have resulted in the construction sector expanding over the last few months with economists confident that the growth will be maintained over the next few years at least.

Housing construction in particular is expected to lead the way in terms of growth within the construction sector but housing construction sites can be particularly dangerous. These construction sites present hazards of their own, costing the economy around $17m a year in medical costs and expenses due to injuries.

That is why despite the increase in activity and the demand for housing, we should ensure that productivity and the need to get the job done never undermine the need for safety. Getting the job done on time and on budget is important but even more important is the health and safety of workers. It is also important to remember that a lack of safety consideration will actually hamper productivity and end up costing more in terms of time and money lost due to accidents and mishaps on the work site.

The first step in ensuring a safe site is providing the adequate safety training for everyone involved. This begins with the White Card course, a general safety course for the construction sector. To learn more about the course visit our homepage.

Technology to Keep Workers Safe while Operating Construction Equipment

It seems that technology all around us is advancing at hyper speeds from mobile phones to personal computers, and the construction industry and its technologies are no different. There is a number of new safety technologies designed to make work on a building site safer by utilising devices.

One such device which resembles a modern video game controller can be used to operate heavy machinery and equipment from the safety of a remote point, away from the danger of crushing etc.

The new device is called a “Safety Sense Controller” and has been developed by Humanistic Robotics. The device has been described as looking like a controller we’re used to seeing operating modern console gaming devices like the Sony Playstation or Nintendo Wii.

But the device has not been developed with gaming in mind, on the contrary its work could not be more serious. The device was designed to help construction workers control construction equipment. The advantage of this is two-fold, firstly it allows for more precision in the operation because the machine will be being controlled automatically rather than manually, secondly it will enhance safety because workers will be out of the machines way while operating the heavy machinery and equipment.

Another advantage of the device is that its resemblance to the modern gaming controllers that young people are so familiar with may help promote these young people working in the construction sector. The following excerpt from a post on Sourceable.net explains further:

While the strong resemblance that the device shares with modern gaming controllers may confer it with a novel or even comical appearance in the eyes of many, its developers are hoping that this feature will strongly enhance its usability for a younger generation of budding construction professionals, who have been weaned on video games from an early age.

Their reasoning runs that the ability kids acquire to operate simulated vehicles while playing games such Grand Theft Auto and Halo throughout the course of their formative years can be readily transferred to a construction site simply by adapting the control devices for building equipment to what they’ve long been accustomed to playing.

See more at: http://sourceable.net/construction-takes-its-cue-from-video-games-controls/#sthash.6hrOmu8W.dpuf

The device is likely to gain a competitive advantage because of this sleek design, whereas other control options on the market aren’t as easy to use as this one. The makers also highlight that it is lighter and more compact than other operating devices which are big and bulky, usually complicated to operate. It also allows workers to utilise the devices without control cords becoming a nuisance as they are available in a broad range of frequencies including 900Mhz, 2.4Ghz and 1.3hz. The post goes on to explain:

The device can be reconfigured for use with a broad variety of modern construction machinery, and provides flexible interface options, including RS-232 Serial, CAN, USB and Analog/Digital I/O.

See more at: http://sourceable.net/construction-takes-its-cue-from-video-games-controls/#sthash.6hrOmu8W.dpuf

The SafetySense controller is not on the market just yet but testing is currently underway. The device is being tested on large scale construction equipment and construction workers can keep an eye out for them on the market, hopefully soon.

Technology in other aspects of construction is also making waves, for example because of modern technology and the wonder of the internet workers entering the construction industry can now complete mandatory construction induction training from their home or office without having to attend traditional classes. Once completed online learners receive a White Card which allows them to gain access onto a construction site for work.

Survey Shows How Perceptions can Affect Injury Recovery

Comcare recently released a survey which it conducted, revealing that people’s perceptions, their relationship with their employer as well as their own personal characteristics has an impact on the length of their time off work and the cost of their claims in the aftermath of an injury.

The survey shows that perceptions of people who suffered work-related injuries, their relationship with their employers and personal characteristics can influence their time off work and how much their claim costs. This is important because workplace injuries across all industries are costing the economy billions annually.

The report entitled The Scheme Snapshot, Perceptions and Personal Characteristics: How they impact recovery attempts to investigate the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of people within the Comcare scheme. The survey took into consideration responses of active workers’ compensation claim between 2011 – 2012 and 2013 – 2014. The survey included the responses of more 5000 injured workers from across the scheme.

The findings of the survey were quite an eye-opener. The survey showed that respondents did not feel ready to return to work. Twenty seven per cent of respondents say they are not physically ready to return to work. Another twenty five per cent indicated that they were not emotionally ready to return to work.

Feedback from injured workers suggests that employers in the Comcare Scheme have implemented strategies to aid recovery of workers and assist workers with their return to work process. This assistance from employers included reduction in working hours and giving workers lighter duties until they were fully recovered.

An article on SafetyCulture.com.au featured the following quote from the report,

“While the health benefits of work have been established, understanding the perceptions of workers about the impact of returning to work on their recovery is important to determining how best to manage and influence the role of work in recovery,” the report stated.

“The importance of the findings outlined in the Key Insights & Opportunities section of this report are, that despite the no-fault nature of the Comcare scheme, a worker determines their own perceptions, and as such, the reality of their own situation.

“While their perception may not be consistent with the underlying no-fault concept, it is their perception that can impact their recovery and claim liability.”

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/09/survey-perceptions-characteristics-injured-workers-impact-recovery/#.VEPLB_mSyRw

Perhaps an even more crucial issue other than return to work, is preventing injuries and time off work in the first place.

If we pay more attention to workplace health and safety, we can minimise worker injuries and time off work, making return to work issues less problematic.

Employers should begin safeguarding their workers by providing them with all the necessary health and safety training. In the construction industry workers must complete White Card general construction training as well as site specific safety training. They should also receive refresher courses every now and then to ensure that they don’t forget what they learn. Employers also need to ensure they communicate with workers about site safety on a regular basis.

Road construction worker Killed during Overnight Roadworks

A man was crushed to death by a truck while working on a road construction site in Kent in The UK. The man, a 21 year old from Tonbridge was working overnight on the road construction zone just before midnight when a maintenance truck ran into him and crushed him. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

The road had to be closed as the scene of the accident was cleared.

In an article on PPConstructionSafety.com the vehicle responsible for the accident was described as a HGV ‘maintenance vehicle’.

The young man who was working on behalf of the Highways Agency, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A quote from a Highways Agency spokesperson said that they were liaising with police and the Health and Safety Executive in the investigation,

“We can confirm that a roadworker, working on behalf of the Highways Agency, has died in an incident overnight on the A21 near Sevenoaks in Kent. Our deepest sympathies are with this person’s family, friends and colleagues at this time.

We are liaising with Kent Police and the Health & Safety Executive to help their investigations and while these continue it would not be appropriate to comment further.”

Source: http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/newsdesk/2015/01/22/fatality-roadworker-dies-on-major-road/

According to the post work had begun on 10 January to replace a section of the central reservation barrier on the A21 near Sevenoaks. The project was due to continue until March and would involve narrow lanes, a temporary 50mph speed limit and overnight carriageway closures.

Road construction work is dangerous enough but when it is carried out at night the risks are exacerbated by the fact that it is dark. That is why adequate lighting and signage are so crucial to ensure that drivers are aware of road work sites and the possibility of construction workers on the road, especially at night when visibility is bad.

Importance of Training in Keeping Workers Safe

Whether engaging in road construction or building construction, every worker needs to be aware of the risks that construction work presents. Training is an important aspect of health and safety in the construction sector for just this reason, it teaches workers what to expect when they are on a work site.

Workers on road construction sites are exposed to some unique hazards (employers need to identify and address these hazards specifically) but in general there are some hazards and controls that can be adopted across the board for construction work, these are taught to workers through the White Card course.

The White Card Course is mandatory for all construction workers, despite the type of site they work on and a White Card is needed to gain access onto a site for work everywhere in Oz. In addition to being mandated by the law, the White Card also familiarises workers with construction health and safety issues, knowledge which they will undoubtedly require working on a high risk work site, such as a road construction zone.

Acting on Findings of Risk Assessments

A fall that took place on a Westminster construction site landed the worker involved in hospital after he fell and broke his collarbone and a rib.

The fall happened as a result of a failure to implement risk assessment findings, resulting in the company responsible being charged by authorities.

The company responsible, Charles Henderson Construction Ltd. was fined for neglecting safety after a carpenter fell through an unprotected roof light opening earlier this year.

The court was told that the carpenter, a 43 year old man was carrying insulation material across the single storey roof of the extension being renovated when he fell through an unguarded opening and landed on open joists 2.5m below.

The worker sustained head wounds and a concussion as well as fractures to his shoulder requiring a metal plate to put in.

The health and safety executive for that country discovered that suitable measures to prevent workers from falling from a height were not implemented. They also discovered an overall disregard for safety from management and failure to put into practice the risk assessment findings.

The article on PPConstructionSafety.com detailed more of the court’s findings:

Charles Henderson Construction Ltd, of Brent, London, was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,118 in costs after admitting a breach of the Work at Height Regulations.

Source: http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/newsdesk/2014/12/11/firm-lacked-competent-safety-managment/

Following the hearing in court, the Health and Safety Executive’s Inspector Stephron Baker Holmes said that what made this incident so concerning was that it was preventable especially because the risks associated with falling from a roof are easily understood, whether from a single or double storey, yet the company still failed to manage these risks which directly resulted in the accident in which a worker could have been killed. The company could have implemented simple controls like edge protection and such a situation could have been avoided, the article went on to explain:

The risks of falling during roof work are easily understood, even from a single-storey level. The company needed to do something about these risks, but it failed to put in place the safeguards that are standard practice in the industry as well as common sense – edge protection, covers over roof openings.

As a result, a worker suffered painful injuries and, had he landed on his head when he fell, it could have been much worse. Falls from height by workers in construction are far too commonplace and fatalities happen too often.

I am sure Charles Henderson Construction would wish to turn the clock back and take the steps needed to prevent falls, but the answer is to do this in the first place.”

Source: http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/newsdesk/2014/12/11/firm-lacked-competent-safety-managment/

In Australia, similarly to The UK, the law requires employers to ensure their workplace is safe and to provide workers with a safe working environment. This means controlling the risk of falls from any height. Before work can begin, hazard identification should be conducted and if it finds the need to work from a height on the site, ways of managing this risk need to be implemented.

Senior Union Official Facing Legal Action over Right-of-Entry Breaches

The country’s largest construction union, the CFMEU has landed in hot water once again. This time the CFMEU’s ACT branch secretary Dean Hall is facing legal action over alleged breaches of right of entry laws committed by him.

The senior Canberra union official is facing legal action over the alleged breaches which he is said to have committed at ACT building sites.

A number of allegations have been made against the CFMEU by the Fair Work Building and Construction commission (FWBC). The allegations against the CFMEU and its ACT branch secretary Dean Hall relate to disruption of work on a work site. Five other CFMEU officials are also facing legal action.

The FWBC alleges that Mr Hall disrupted work by trying to interfere with a concrete pour and threatening to halt another. The incident in question took place on a building site n Franklin, which is in the north of Canberra.

According to FWBC, Mr Hall exclaimed the following to a concrete pump operator,

"stop pumping or I'll make you lose your ticket".

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-12/cfmeu-act-branch-secretary-dean-hall-facing-legal-action/6012884

The operator then apparently packed up the concrete pump and left the site.

The FWBC alleges that Mr Hall told union organiser, Johnny Loman to "watch what happens when I stop their pour. There's going to be a punch on here."

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-12/cfmeu-act-branch-secretary-dean-hall-facing-legal-action/6012884

The allegations have been rejected by Mr Hall and the CFMEU. He warns that the union will be mounting an intense defence argument in the Federal Circuit Court.The post on Abc.net.au quoted Mr Hall:

"The CFMEU in the ACT is proud of the fact that we're helping change the worst safety culture in the country," he said.

"The ACT has the worst safety record in the building construction industry by a country mile and the CFMEU and its officers have played a proactive role in trying to enforce and promote an improved and better safety standard in the construction industry."

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-12/cfmeu-act-branch-secretary-dean-hall-facing-legal-action/6012884

The Fair Work Building and Construction also say that Hall falsely entered the site without the necessary right of entry requirements being met. He allegedly produced a piece of paper and showed it to the site’s management as proof of his right to entry onto the site. He was not in possession of a valid right of entry permit as he should have been. The post went on to explain”

The FWBC said right-of-entry permits were A4-sized documents and FWBC claimed the paper was illegible apart from Mr Hall's name, the Australian Government logo and the words Fair Work.

Mr Hall said the CFMEU would also counter-sue the two builders who he claimed hindered and obstructed a permit holder.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-12/cfmeu-act-branch-secretary-dean-hall-facing-legal-action/6012884

Right of entry laws came into effect last year when the Fair Work Amendment Bill was passed. The laws make it compulsory for WHS entry permit holders including union reps to give at least 24 hours notice, but not more than 14 days notice before entering a workplace to investigate a safety breach. It also necessitates at least 24 hours, but no more than 14 days, prior notice before any person assisting a health and safety representative can have access to the workplace

Penalties for non-compliance with WHS entry permit conditions have also come into effect under the new amendment and introduced penalties for failure to comply with the entry notification requirements.

Statistics Show Asbestos top Cause of Workplace Deaths in a Developed Country

Surprising workplace health and safety news that has emerged out of Canada reveals that asbestos is the leading cause of workplace deaths in that country.

Asbestos exposure is a significant problem for workers in numerous industries in Australia and similarly to Canada, asbestos is responsible for the deaths of a notable percentage of the population, however we are lucky that we have already begun to tackle this problematic health and safety giant.

In Canada, asbestos exposure is the single largest on-the-job killer according to new data, yet nothing seems to be done about it. Research shows that more than one third of total workplace death claims approved last year and nearly a third since 1996.

According to an article on www.theglobeandmail.com there were 368 death claims for asbestos exposure last year alone which represents a higher number than fatalities from highway accidents, fires and chemical exposures combined. What is most concerning about these statistics is that most exposure to asbestos is entirely preventable with a little care and caution.

In Canada much of the problem is being linked to the use of asbestos pipes still being used in new buildings, despite the fact that the risks associated with asbestos are so great and these risks are so widely known.

Sadly the Canadian federal government continues to allow the import of asbestos containing materials such as pipes and brake pads into the country.

In addition, citizens aren’t being cautioned about the impact that even low levels of asbestos exposure can have on human health.

Despite the banning of asbestos in most developed countries including Oz, Britain, Japan and Sweden, Canada has yet to ban the product and in fact according to the article, they haven’t even clearly stated that asbestos in all its forms is a known human carcinogen.

In fact Canada has up until 2011 been one of the leading exporters of asbestos in the world, the last mine was closed in 2011.

Canadian health experts have warned that long latency periods mean deaths from asbestos will climb further, something that we in Oz know all too well.

A professor of a renowned Canadian university spoke out against the nation’s failure to address asbestos risks,

“The indications are that we can expect an increase [in asbestos-related diseases] to continue for at least another decade or so. And that’s assuming we as a nation ban it now. If we don’t do that, we can expect it to continue to rise indefinitely, but perhaps at a lower rate,” said Colin Soskolne, an Edmonton-based professor emeritus at the University of Alberta.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/asbestos-is-canadas-top-source-of-workplace-death/article22081291/

She goes on to explain that even in Oz, where asbestos has been banned for a decade or so, asbestos related diseases are still climbing. This is an indication of the lag time between banning of asbestos and seeing an actual drop in the number of asbestos related diseases. She explained:

The “responsible public-health action would be to ban the use of asbestos in Canada and other countries and replace it with substitutes,” said Dr. Soskolne, who is also chair of the International Joint Policy Committee of the Societies of Epidemiology, adding that there is “no demonstrated safe way to use it in Canada.”

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/asbestos-is-canadas-top-source-of-workplace-death/article22081291/

Asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period of typically 20 to 40 years with most victims dying of mesothelioma.

We will have to wait and see how the asbestos situation unfolds for the Canadians, let’s hope they will soon begin to tackle this problematic substance on a national level as we have begun to do here in Oz.

More about construction safety information

SafeWork SA reminds workers to check if their High Risk Licence is Valid

Construction sites are one of the most high risk work environments that tradies will encounter. Most of the work activities that are engaged in on these work sites present huge risks and can be extremely dangerous not only for the workers involved but everyone on site and even members of the public nearby.

That is why anyone who engages in work on a building site in Oz has to first become accredited to do so, by completing general construction safety training. Once this training has successfully been completed, the worker will receive a White Card as proof that they qualified to work on a construction site.

While all workers must be in possession of this White Card qualification, workers involved in particularly high risk work which is common in construction (such as crane operators) an additional high risk qualification is necessary. This is why workers who are engaged in high risk work are required to obtain a high risk licence.

Call to Convert High Licence

SafeWork SA has reminded all workers to check if their high risk licence is valid particularly as the September 1st deadline rolls around.

Workers with high risk licences issued between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2004 have been warned to convert their licences to the new national high risk licence before the deadline.

On their website SafeWork SA’s Executive Director, Bryan Russell reminded workers that failure to convert to the national licence would prevent people from legally operating high risk equipment, that would affect people on construction sites such as crane operators, rigging and dogging experts etc.

Russell went on to state:

“It is a legal requirement to hold a valid licence if you operate a forklift, crane and hoist or pressure

equipment as well as if you perform scaffolding, rigging and dogging work,”

Source: http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/uploaded_files/20140806HighRiskWorkLicence.pdf

Russell also reminded people that were issued with an OHS Certification Australia Card, old tickets of Notice of Satisfactory Assessment (NSA) between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2004 that they need to convert to the national licence before September or risk losing their right to work with high risk equipment. He went on to state:

“Anyone with an OHS Certification Australia Card, old tickets or a Notice of Satisfactory

Assessment – NSA – issued between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2004 needs to convert to

a national licence before September,”

“Converting to the national licence is straightforward, simply call the High Risk Work Conversion

Line on 1300 975 909 and have your original certificates, tickets or NSA to hand,”

Source: http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/uploaded_files/20140806HighRiskWorkLicence.pdf

Russell went on to explain that multiple high risk work qualifications can be converted and listed on the new national high risk work licence that includes a photograph of the licensed operator. For a single fee workers can receive the high risk licence with a photograph.

The national Licence to Perform High Risk Work was introduced in South Australia in September 2010. Workers have a 5 year transition period to convert their existing qualifications.

SafeWork SA provides the following High Risk Work Conversion line for further information

1300 975 909

SafeWork SA’s Help Centre number is 1300 365 255

Workers can also go online for more information, forms or fees safework.sa.gov.au

Sketchy Construction Contractors to face Jail Time

Laws that came into effect on January 15, have dealt a blow to dodgy construction work in Oz. According to the law, building and construction contractors who building and construction contractors who repetitively perform work for which they are not licensed or do not have the required insurance may now face prison.

The new laws came into effect in New South Wales and will hopefully give consumers more confidence and protection while reducing the compliance burden on the building sector by cutting financial penalties for unlicensed building work in half.

The Home Building Amendment Act 2014 came into effect on January 15 and it means that all builders in the state of NSW that are convicted of performing unlicensed building work for which they do not have home warranty insurance, be subject to a non-mandatory sentence, facing a possible maximum 12 months in prison.

Despite the risk of a jail term, the maximum financial penalty for builders who commit this offence has been dropped from $110,000 per offence for individuals and $220,000 for companies to only $55,000.

Licensing laws have also been adjusted to allow Fair Trading NSW to take into account any actions or behaviour of company directors and associates who were involved in corporate liquidations in the past, for up to 3 years prior to the liquidation when assessing licensing applications.

According to the post on Sourceable.net the laws will also:

raise the threshold for building and general trade work for which a licence is required from $1,000 to $5,000, consistent with other states

eliminate the need for a licence to complete stand-alone contract work for internal paintwork or work on tennis course, ponds and water features

clarify the definition of major defects and

raise the threshold for detailed contract requirements from $5,000 to $20,000 (for contracts between $5,000 and $20,000, contracts will be required but less detail will be necessary).

See more at: http://sourceable.net/jail-time-for-dodgy-construction-contractors/#sthash.x37RUBkd.dpuf

The government hopes that the new laws will reduce the instances of company owners and directors avoiding liability by stripping assets from companies and then simply moving on to opening a new entity to run, while leaving unpaid taxes etc. from the previous entity. The new laws will make it harder for these directors and owners to get a licence to operate under a new legal entity name.

In the article on Sourceable.net the problem of unregistered builders around Oz and in NSW causing issues for authorities, being a nuisance to the construction sector and ripping off consumers was highlighted. This is the type of thing the new law aims to combat. Problematic activity includes …

problems ranging from outright scam activity (such as tradespeople taking up-front deposits and disappearing without completing any work), the performance of incomplete or shoddy work, or the performance of work by contractors or tradespeople who simply do not have the skills and experience required to perform the work properly and safely.

See more at: http://sourceable.net/jail-time-for-dodgy-construction-contractors/#sthash.x37RUBkd.dpuf

The article goes on to detail some cases where members of the public were ripped off by so-called builders. The threat of prison time, the government hopes will help do away with this type of behaviour because the harsh financial penalties previously didn’t seem to be enough of a deterrent.

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