Overview
The purpose of this research was to establish baseline data regarding current awareness of risk and behaviours undertaken to reduce risk in the Tree Work sector with the aim to:
- Obtain insight into the barriers and challenges to meet safety standards the industry encounters.
- Educate the industry on appropriate safe work assessments for the job.
- Provide guidance material that will enable industry and Safework NSW to effectively engage
- Discuss and encourage use of the risk management approach in this sector.
- Empower the consumer to understand their rights when engaging contractors to perform tree work, in particular tree trimming and pruning
Survey
SafeWork NSW engaged an external contractor Jetty Research in October 2016 to conduct a combined telephone and online survey of Tree Work providers to allow Safework NSW to measure knowledge of safety standards and provide a baseline regarding current risks and behaviours in the Tree Work sector.
Objectives:
- To highlight the industry understanding of their responsibilities around workers compensation and return to work requirements
- To determine the perceived barriers for business to seek information and advice from Safework NSW
- Gain knowledge and insight into the industry’s ability and capability to effectively manage the risks associated with the focus areas being:
- Working at heights
- Working and maintaining plant
- Working around power lines
- Being hit by falling objects
Respondents:
- 904 PCBU’s were invited to participate
- A 25 per cent response rate was achieved
- 228 surveys were completed
- 115 online and 113 by telephone
- 66 per cent had fewer than five employees
- 59 per cent had been operating for more than 10 years
- 61 per cent operated regionally (North, South and West of Sydney)
Respondents
The respondents were Tree Work providers sourced using the existing SafeWork NSW database and publicly available information listed in Sensis, Gumtree, Airtasker and businesses listed on association websites.
Survey results
The survey results are based on 228 respondents.
Working at heights
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 95% | Are confident in managing the risks |
| 79% | Believe it is a major/moderate hazard |
| 78% | Use appropriate systems of work for the job as a way of managing the risks |
Working with equipment and machinery
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 94% | Are confident in managing the risks |
| 76% | Believe it is a major/moderate hazard |
| 70% | Ensure operators are competent and trained as a way of managing the risks. |
Working around power lines
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 70% | Are confident in managing the risks |
| 63% | Believe it is a major/moderate hazard |
| 57% | Ensure a safe distance is maintained as a way of managing the risks |
Exposure to sun/sun safety
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 55% | Are very confident in managing the risks |
| 38% | Are quite confident in managing the risks |
| 7% | Are not confident in managing the risks |
Managing heat fatigue
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 51% | Are very confident in managing the risks |
| 43% | Are quite confident in managing the risks |
| 5% | Are not confident in managing the risks |
Working around power lines
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 63% | Believe it is a major/moderate hazard |
| 70% | Are confident in managing the risks |
| 57% | Ensure a safe distance is maintained as a way of managing the risks |
Other hazards
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 98% | Are confident in managing the risks associated with being hit by falling objects |
| 94% | Are confident in managing risks associated with working with and maintaining plant |
When asked about other major hazards, respondents mentioned unqualified, unskilled and illegitimate businesses, working environment, underground services, animals and members of the public/customers.
Workers compensation
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 87% | Have a policy |
| 24% | Had a claim from a worker in the past twelve months |
Return to work
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 55% | Have a documented plan |
| 54% | Have a nominated person responsible for assisting injured workers back to work |
Why businesses are reluctant to contact SafeWork NSW for information and advice
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 56% | Advice is more theoretical than practical |
| 47% | Perceive that SafeWork NSW doesn’t have the technical knowledge to provide advice |
| 38% | Fear any action that SafeWork NSW might take |
| 29% | No industry specific information available on the website |
Preferred way to receive information and advice from SafeWork NSW
| Percentage | Criteria |
|---|
| 56% | Hard copy resources |
| 50% | Prefer to visit the SafeWork NSW website and use apps |
| 46% | Industry specific one-day workshops |
| 37% | Industry specific websites and e-newsletters |
Further information
A copy of the full report is available by contacting gipa@safework.nsw.gov.au.
While this work has been undertaken according to valid and rigorous methodology, SafeWork NSW acknowledges that any such research is only the perceptions and actions of a sample of the broader population, so the findings must be taken in context with knowledge of our customers and influences on the way we do our work.
