Professional Documents
Culture Documents
In this section, we look at the importance of safety in the construction industry and the
legislative framework which underpins it.
DRILL DOWN
Get to know the Construction section on the Safe Work Australia website. It has construction
specific resources, research, information sheets and links to the work health and safety authority for
your state or territory. You can find the Safe Work Australia Construction page at
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/construction
KEY TERMINOLOGY
• Workplace health and safety (WHS) • Job safety and environment analysis (JSEA)
• Hazards • Safe work method statement (SWMS)
• Risks • Safety data sheets (SDS).
• Controls
• Person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
• Personal protective equipment
WHS LEGISLATION
The WHS Act and WHS Regulations provide a framework for health and safety to:
• secure the health and safety of workers and their workplaces
• protect workers and other persons against harm
• promote continuous improvement and progressively higher standards of work health
and safety.
WHS ACTS AND REGULATIONS AND CODES OF PRACTICE BY STATE AND TERRITORY
Safe Work Australia developed and a set of model workplace health and safety laws for all
implementation by the Commonwealth as well as the states and territories. However, it is up to each
state and territory to evaluate, regulate and enforce the laws if they choose.
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
• Some of the hazards and risks that you will be exposed to in your construction work
will be environmental.
• A JSEA considers environmental risks as well as safety risks.
HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS
• Level 1 – Elimination
• Level 2 – Substitution, isolation and engineering controls
• Level 3 – Administrative controls
• Level 4 – PPE
In this section, we look at the processes for planning and preparing to work safely,
including the development of JSAs for general safety hazards or SWMS for high-risk
construction work hazards.
DRILL DOWN
The video at the following link is a webinar which includes a comprehensive explanation of Safe
Work Method Statements. It is quite long at 45 minutes but gives a clear and thorough explanation
of what they are, why they are important and how they are developed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw_ACH4w9D4
WHEN TO CONSULT
• Consult in the early stages of the planning process.
• Consult again immediately before work begins on the task.
• Consult again as the project unfolds to ensure that the document remains current and
relevant.
HOW TO CONSULT
Be genuine about your consultation. Listen actively, ask effective questions and be
respectful.