Construction work
Every year, many construction workers are killed or injured at work.
Principal contractors
A principal contractor must be appointed for all construction projects valued at $250,000 or more.
As a principal contractor, you must:
- erect signs that give your contact details
- prepare a written work health and safety (WHS) management plan before work begins, and make it available to workers
- get a copy of the safe work method statement relating to high risk construction work
- manage risks to health and safety, and general risks, specifically those associated with:
- storing, moving and disposing materials and waste at the site
- storing plant that isn't in use
- controlling traffic around the site
- maintaining essential services.
Safe work method statements
A safe work method statement (SWMS) must be prepared for all high risk construction work.
It must be given to the principal contractor and updated whenever control measures are changed.
High risk construction work
High risk construction work includes:
- work that involves a risk of a person falling more than two metres
- work on a telecommunication tower
- demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure
- work that involves, or is likely to involve, the disturbance of asbestos
- structural alterations or repairs that require temporary support to prevent collapse
- work in or near a confined space
- work in or near a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1.5 metres
- work in or near a tunnel
- use of explosives
- work on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping
- work on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines
- work on or near energised electrical installations or services
- work in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere
- work involving tilt-up or precast concrete
- work on, in or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane or other traffic corridor that is in use by traffic other than pedestrians
- work in areas in which there is movement of powered mobile plant
- work in areas in which there are artificial extremes of temperature
- work in or near water or other liquid that involves a risk of drowning
- work that involves diving work.