Workplace Health and Safety

Workplace Health and Safety in the
Building and Construction Industry

Welcome to Safety Sense, an on-line health and safety induction package for secondary school students undertaking work placements and work experience in the Building and Construction Industry as part of their school curriculum.

This package should be done after the General Safety Sense package.

Have you completed the General package and received your Safety Sense Certificate?

YES - Continue

NO - Go to Safety Sense, General package

This package is designed to help young people improve their knowledge and understanding of workplace health and safety issues related to this industry before they enter the workplace. It is also useful for young people who are already in the workplace.

This package contains information on:

hazard identification;
personal protective equipment;
prevention of falls and safe work at heights;
electrical safety;
job safety analysis;
manual handling;
noise;
vibration;
hazardous substances; and
the right to refuse work.

This package will help you understand workplace health and safety hazards and laws and provide some practical solutions to common health and safety problems in the Building and Construction Industry.

If you complete this package successfully you will receive an on-line Safety Sense Certificate issued by the Department of Industrial Relations. This Safety Sense Certificate recognises your understanding of basic workplace health and safety in the Building and Construction Industry and prepares you for your experience in workplaces.

Safety Sense is a Workplace Health and Safety Queensland initiative.

Introduction
Your first job, whether it's full-time, part-time, casual or an apprenticeship, can be an exciting and demanding experience as new responsibilities and expectations are placed on you in a working environment.

Employers provide students with valuable opportunities to gain experience in the workplace. It is important to understand that employers have responsibilities towards you, and that you also have responsibilities towards them.

Health and Safety work is everyone's responsibility. It is important that you have a general understanding of health and safety for the industry in which you will be undertaking your work experience or work placement.

While you are at a workplace on a work placement or work experience, the employer is responsible for ensuring the workplace is safe, including:

providing safe work areas, machinery and equipment;
providing information, instruction, training and supervision; and
providing personal protective equipment.

The employer must ensure that your health or safety is not harmed in any way. You must take responsibility for looking after your own health and safety, and not put others at risk.

This includes:

following safety instructions;
using equipment carefully; and
reporting hazards and injuries.

Young workers are usually keen to work hard and do well. They also have a much higher risk of being injured at work than older workers.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland believes one reason so many young workers are injured is that they are not aware of their rights to be properly trained, supervised, cared for and provided with a safe and healthy environment.

Common Hazards in the Building and Construction Industry

There are common hazards that exist in the Building and Construction Industry. It is important to learn about these hazards and how to work safely in these environments.

Within this industry you may be involved in a range of work activities such as setting up simple working platforms and temporary power sources, safe operation and maintenance of equipment including hand tools and portable power tools, taking measurements and site levels, performing site calculations, preparing sites for concrete pads, pouring and finishing concrete pads, and working with internal partitioning.

Hazard Identification

Hazard identification is a key step in preventing injury and disease in the workplace. Where there's a risk, you need to stop and think. You need to think about what you are about to do, the potential risks and the likely effects on yourself and other people.

The 3 Step Approach to Hazard Identification:

1. Spot the hazard.

Be alert at work! Notice potential hazards and work out what the problem is.

2. Assess the risk.

Talk to your supervisor about the hazard and work out a way to solve the problem.

3. Make the changes.

Follow through. Carry out the agreed actions in order to solve the problem.

Personal Protective Equipment

Every building and construction worker should ensure that they always use approved safety equipment in the workplace.

NOTE:
When purchasing protective equipment and clothing, ensure it complies with the relevant Australian Standard.

Personal protective equipment (P.P.E.) and clothing for employees should be used when hazards in the workplace cannot be eliminated.

After receiving training, employees are required to use the personal protective equipment supplied by the employer and follow all safety instructions.

Personal protective equipment and clothing used in the Building and Construction Industry can include such things as safety hats; hearing protection; protective gloves; safety footwear; safety harnesses; respirators; and safety glasses as appropriate.

Employees should be instructed and trained in the correct use of the P.P.E. provided by the employer.