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.

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.

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.