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Home > Construction > Construction (240 hours) > Compulsory Units > Apply OH&S requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry > Apply OHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry

Assess risks

Hazard identification, risk assessment, and elimination or control offer the best opportunity for reducing workplace injury or illness. A hazard is anything that affects or has the ability to affect any worker or visitor on a work site.
Hazards arise from:

• the work environment
• the use of machinery and substances
• poor work design
• inappropriate systems and procedures.

Hazards can be classified into five broad areas:

1. physical, eg noise, radiation, light, vibration
2. chemical, eg poisons, dusts
3. biological, eg viruses, plants, parasites
4. mechanical/electrical, eg slips, trips and falls, tools, electrical equipment
5. psychological, eg fatigue, violence, bullying.

Hazard management plans can be developed after hazards have been classified, eg a physical hazard management plan would be developed where hazards have been identified as physical.

Having identified hazards and determined that people are at risk of injury or illness from them, there is a legal obligation for employers to do something about them.
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 states that an employer must eliminate any reasonably foreseeable hazard and, if this is not practical, must control the risks. Controlling risk means that if elimination of the hazard is not possible, then the risk should be minimised by using the most effective method, in the following order:

• substituting the system of work or machinery with something safer
• isolating the hazard
• minimising the risk by introducing engineering controls, eg guard rails or scaffolding
• minimising the risk by adopting administrative controls, eg warning signs or safe work practices
• using personal protective equipment (PPE), eg safety glasses, ear muffs.

Once a hazard has been identified, an employer is required, in consultation with their workers, to determine how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how serious the injury or illness may be. This involves reviewing any available information about the hazard, such as:

• information supplied by the manufacturer of the product or equipment (such as handbooks/operating manuals)
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) prepared by the supplier of a hazardous substance
• experience from the workplace with the hazard or similar hazards. This may involve consulting with workers about their experiences or referring to injury data.
• control measures outlined in Chapters 4–8 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001
• WorkCover guidance material designed to help assess potential risks for particular hazards, processes and work tasks
• codes of practice which provide direction and guidance on the identification and control of specific hazards
• Australian Standards that set out specifications for a range of equipment, products and materials to ensure that they are safe and of a good quality.

Electrical hazards

Electrical hazards are among the most common types of hazards found on a building site, since so much of the construction process relies on the use of electrical tools and equipment. 240 volt power AC (Alternating Current) power is an essential supply required at nearly all stages of the construction process. It is generally sourced from electricity mains that are provided by electrical supply companies. This supply usually takes the form of overhead wires on power poles or wires underground. If no mains are present then an electrical generator can be used.

Regardless of the source from which the electricity comes, it must be remembered at all times that electricity has the potential to kill.

• Power tools (240 volt)
  Most portable power tools (PPT) available today are double insulated. This specification means that the body of the tool is plastic and the electrical components are double insulated. Double insulated tools do not need to be earthed. The cords attached to double insulated PPT only require two pins in the plug, however they usually have a three-pin plug to assist in keeping the cord firmly connected to the power outlet or extension cord.
  
  Portable power tools must be checked monthly by a qualified tester to ensure that the tool is safe. After tools have been tested and found to be safe, a coloured tag is attached to show clearly that they are safe to use.
  It is essential that power tools are used in the correct manner to avoid risk of injury. The Kennards Hire website contains descriptions of various power tools and useful information on how to use them safely.
  
  
• Extension leads
  Extension leads are used to increase the distance from a power supply from which power tools (or other electrical appliances) can be used. Extension leads must be earthed and must therefore have a three-pin plug that is correctly installed. Extension leads must comply with Australian standards and must be kept in good condition. This means keeping them away from situations where damage may occur. 
  Damage can be caused in a number of circumstances. Water damage is an obvious one when, for example, an extension cord is accidentally submerged in a pool. Another is mechanical damage, for example an extension lead may be compressed or destroyed by vehicles driving over it, or it may be damaged by sharp or heavy objects being dropped onto it, causing the outer casing to be cut and allowing the live wires to be exposed. Damage to leads will also occur if they come into contact with acid or hot items such as those present in welding applications.
  
  Leads should be kept tied up and off the ground using special insulated hooks or insulated stands. These hooks and stands are classified as safety equipment and are therefore compulsory on construction sites. On large sites the power boards must be placed 30 metres apart to negate the need for joining extension cords together. Any 240 volt extension cord must be heavy duty sheathed if it is to be used on a construction site.
  
  Extension cords must be checked monthly by a qualified tester to ensure that the lead is safe. After they have been tested and found to be safe, a coloured tag is attached to show clearly that they are safe to use.

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