Construction Induction Card- How Do I Get One?

WorkSafe Red Card, are they still valid?

According to WorkSafe the construction industry in Victoria is one of the largest, employing approximately 225,000 workers and growing.  This is an industry that is expanding each year requiring new and inexperienced workers to undergo general construction site safety training in order to gain access to work a construction site.

Due to the fact that this is a growing industry, wrought with high risk activities, construction safety training is crucial. Each week 50 workers are injured on building sites across the state, which is why the government has introduced the new, national white card to replace the previous Victorian Red Card which was mandatory for work on Victorian construction sites. The new requirement for work on any construction site in Australia is the completion of the white card course.

Many incidents occur because construction site safety is not sufficient and workers are not suitably trained. In order to avoid incidents like head trauma, broken appendages, back injury etc. workers must undergo construction site induction training in the form of a white card.

Thankfully the white card is available online. So all that is needed to complete the course is a computer and an internet connection. It is presented in the form of an easy to understand, interactive assessment that enables workers to complete the training at their convenience.

In addition to the general construction induction training, employers must also ensure that workers undergo site specific induction. By conducting an assessment of the site and the possible hazards, employers should work together with employees to develop safety procedures for the site. Site specific training will entail training workers on these procedures.

All workers performing construction work require proof that they have completed a general construction induction course for the industry in the form of a White Card which replaced the original Red Card. The course can be completed through a registered training organisation. Only once the course has been completed and the white card issued can the worker be allowed entry onto a construction site to work.

How do I get it?

It is simple to complete your White Card course because it can be conducted online, when and where it is convenient for you. What’s more is that our white card is accepted in all states, so you are not restricted to work only in Victoria, if you move your white will be valid in any state. All that is needed is a computer and an internet connection in order to access the course material. An easy assessment is done online and once completed you are issued with a certificate of completion/statement of achievement which will enable you to receive the white card. All instructions are available online at www.whitecardonline.com.au

Although red cards issued previously will still be valid, workers who wish to obtain the construction site safety training now can do so through the online white card course. In order to obtain more information on the Red Card and new White Card, visit WorkSafe Victoria’s website: http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/your-industry/construction/how-to-comply/induction-training

 

White Card Update: OH&S includes Mental Health

Government launches National E-Health Mental Portal

Awesome news for the Work Force in Australia is the introduction of a National E-Health Mental Portal by government. This shows government’s commitment to not only physical health but the mental state of workers. Much attention is given to work site safety, but mental helath is just as important and warrants attention.

According to the law, employers have a responsibility for the health and safety of their workers, that includes their mental health. This new portal is an opportunity for employers to gain valuable information on mental health issues and will allow users to access treatment information online, avoiding what some perceive as embarrassing face-to-face consultation. Due to the perceived embarrassment many workers avoid seeking help and simply live with the problem, now they will be able to access valuable information and treatment anonymously.

According to the Safety Institute of Australia:

Do you have workers who are experiencing workplace stress? A great new information source for people interested in mental health has been unveiled with Australia’s first national e-mental health online portal launched by Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler.

Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler said the launch of the site delivered one of the key objectives of the Government’s new e-Mental Health Strategy, which was also released today and is now available for download at mindhealthconnect.org.au

Butler notes “We know that one in five Australians will experience a mental illness every year. We also know less than half of these people will seek treatment.

“This portal will allow people to access information and treatment as an alternative to traditional face-to¬ face services, in their own time, in an environment in which they’re comfortable,” Mr Butler said. “Mindhealthconnect provides Australians with a pathway to trusted online therapy services and crisis support services as well as information on high prevalence conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Source: http://www.sia.org.au/news/updates/national-e-mental-health-portal.html

This is to be Australia’s first e-mental health portal and is a trustworthy source of information to the nation. Mental health is an area often ignored by workers and employers and can have serious consequences such as suicide. According to the government’s research 1 in 5 Australians will experience mental health problems in their lifetime, however only half would actually seek medical help.

Bullying, a problem that has long plagued Australian work sites, can also exacerbate the problem of mental illness or can actually be caused by it. Stress, anxiety and depression are just a few of the mental illnesses that can be helped by the information on the site.

This report on Health.com.au has more on the launch:

Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler said the launch of the site delivered one of the key objectives of the Government’s new e-Mental Health Strategy, which was also released today and is now available for download at mindhealthconnect.org.au

“We know that one in five Australians will experience a mental illness every year. We also know less than half of these people will seek treatment.

“This portal will allow people to access information and treatment as an alternative to traditional face-to­face services, in their own time, in an environment in which they’re comfortable,” Mr Butler said.

“Mindhealthconnect provides Australians with a pathway to trusted online therapy services and crisis support services as well as information on high prevalence conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Evidence backs the use of online and telephone services to assist those suffering mild to moderate mental disorders and distress, and it can also help combat barriers to conventional therapy.”

Mr Butler said further services and information to be implemented later in the year include an online virtual clinic, information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and information on alcohol and other drugs, eating disorders and other severe mental illnesses.

“The Labor Government’s e-Mental Health Strategy sets out a vision for an accessible, high-quality and integrated system to further embed online care as a regular feature of the health care system.

“The delivery of e-mental health services will be further improved as the National Broadband Network rolls out to every home and business in the country,” he said.

Source: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr12-mb-mb062.htm

 So whether you, a friend, co-worker or employee is suffering from what you suspect may be mental illness, visit the portal and commit to improving mental health in your workplace or circle of friends.

Posted by Steven Asnicar

 

White Card Update: Guidance When Working from Elevated Heights on Construction Sites

Falling from heights has long been identified as the most common cause of deaths on construction sites in Australia. The reason for this may be that employers and workers are not awarding the appropriate attention to the development of safety procedures on site.

It is vital to site safety that hazards be identified before beginning work. This can be done a number of ways depending on the type of work involved and the hazards associated with the hazard.

Consulting with workers is an informative and helpful means of identifying hazards as workers are most in contact with work processes and hazards. Workers usually have first hand experience of hazards.

When carrying out the following activities, a risk assessment exercise should always be carried out:

  • on an unstable surface
  • on a surface which is sloping and/or slippery
  • near an unprotected edge or opening.
  • on a structure being constructed or being demolished
  • on fragile roofing
  • while using access equipment

By carrying out a risk assessment employers are able to implement the appropriate control measures. Once hazards have been identified they should be assessed in terms of their risks.

The risk to be assessed is involves questioning:

1.       The likelihood that injury will occur

2.       The severity of the injury should it occur.

Factors to consider when assessing the likelihood and severity of risk that may cause a person to

fall include:

  • condition of the work surface, e.g. an uneven surface or a surface with unprotected edges which are not identified or are difficult to see
  • bad weather conditions, e.g. heavy rain or wind
  • number of people who may be at risk
  • location of the work area
  • location of access routes
  • type of work to be carried out
  • work practices in use
  • scheduling of work
  • type of plant, machinery and equipment to be used
  • training and experience of the people carrying out the work
  • sudden acceleration or deceleration
  • moving from one surface to another
  • the capability of the surface to support the load
  • loss of hand grip
  • type of footwear
  • equipment, tools, or rubbish obstructing work areas
  • incorrect use of ladders
  • clothing catching
  • moving surfaces
  • lighting
  • likelihood of being struck by a moving or falling object.

CONTROLLING THE RISK

Once the risk has been identified and assessed the risks should be either eliminated or substituted.

As with all hazards controls must be implemented in the following order:

  • eliminate the hazard, e.g. work on the ground instead of from a height
  • minimise the risk, such as substituting a work process with a less hazardous one, such as using walkways for access instead of using ladders.
  • Isolation of the hazard, e.g. using a physical barrier
  • modify the system of work or equipment such as using a travel restraint
  • If none of the above can reduce the hazard sufficiently, adopt administrative controls, such as changing work rosters.
  • Personal protective equipment should be the last resort, but should be worn as an additional safety measure.

A workplace health and safety plan should be used to manage workplace health and such as plan should include how to handle hazards to health and safety from working on an elevated position or any place from which a person can fall.

The risks need to be assessed and identify which risks could result in a fall hazard. Employers should also consider control measures to eliminate or minimise the level of risk. Employers should also indicate how the control measures can be monitored and reviewed.

Control measures must be in place before a worker starts work at a height, such as ensuring working platforms are in place before formwork is erected. Some cases warrant more than control measure at time to be implemented in conjunction with one another. Physical barriers are the preferred method of preventing a person from falling from height, examples include edge protection systems and fall protection covers.

An edge protection system can be made of guard railing to be used on the edge of working platforms, walkways, stairways, ramps and landings and should run parallel to the working surface.

Holes or openings are often covered with wire mesh. These should not be used as a working platform. All covers should be securely fixed around the hole. Signs should also be attached to the cover to warn people that there is a hole underneath. This is a particularly dangerous hazard as many lives have been lost when workers fell through these mesh covers.

For example, metal mesh is spread on top of purlins or battens to provide fall protection for roof installers from falling between the purlins or battens.

Systems of work and equipment that secure a person to a building or structure are known as personal fall protection, and should be used to minimise the risk of a person falling from a height or injury to a person after they have fallen from height.

The best method of protection is to use personal fall protection in conjunction with other fall protection systems. The use of these fall protection systems requires proper training to ensure that workers are using the equipment correctly if it is reduce the injury caused by falling.

A fall-arrest system is another method of fall protection, designed to arrest the fall of a worker. This system usually consists of a fall-arrest harness is an assembly of interconnected shoulder and leg straps, with or without a body belt designed to spread the load over the body and to prevent the wearer from falling out of the assembly.

An important factor in the safe use of a fall-arrest system is to reduce the free fall distance as far as possible. Correctly installed fall-arrest equipment will only safely arrest a fall if there are no obstructions in the fall path. The longer the free fall distance the greater the risk of the person hitting obstructions.

What to do if a person Falls

If a worker should fall, act immediately to retrieve the worker.

Catch platform and safety nets should only be used where it is not possible to provide any more reliable means of fall protection. A catch platform is a temporary platform located under a work area to catch a person after they have fallen.

A safety net must be installed as close as possible to the underside of the work area, but not in contact with the surface. The safety net must cover an area extending beyond the work area.

Personal Protective Clothing

Footwear that minimises the risk of slipping should be worn when working where there is a risk of falls from heights, as just one slip could prove fatal. Consider the surface you are going to be working on, for example it may be raining and the surface wet and slippery.

Also a safety helmet should be worn and safely attached to the persons head so that in the evnt of a fall it does not become removed from the person as this would defeat the purpose of wearing a helmet in the first place.

By following the correct safety procedures, the number of deaths that result from falls each year on construction sites can be reduced and more lives can be saved.

Posted by Steven Asnicar

 

 

White Card Update: Worker receives $800,000 after severe workplace injury

The tragic incident in 2009 which left a 61 year old worker disabled has resulted in $800,000 compensation for the worker. The injury occurred as the worker used a jack hammer to demolish a wall while standing on an erected platform. The worker then fell 3m to the ground which left him disabled after having to go numerous surgeries.

The incident is yet another example of the unsafe practices occurring on construction sites. The shocking part is that statistics show falls from heights are the leading cause of death on construction sites and yet employers in the industry are still not taking this hazard seriously enough.

An interesting post on SafetyCulture.com.au had this to report on the case:

The ACT Supreme Court has awarded a 61-year-old Canberra man more than $800,000 in compensation after a workplace accident left him disabled.

 The man was injured in March 2009 while using a jack hammer to demolish part of a wall.

 He had been ordered to use the equipment while standing on a plywood platform erected as formwork for a concrete pour.

 He fell about 3 metres to the floor below when a piece of the formwork flipped.

 The Court heard he suffered injuries to his right shoulder and elbow and had not been able to resume work after having two operations.

 The man was awarded more than $100,000 in compensation for his injuries and more than $400,000 for lost past and future income.

http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php

Typically falls on construction sites can result from using unsafe or incomplete scaffolds, inappropriate ladders/ladder use, falling from or through roofs, falls from trucks, falls into holes, pits or shafts, accessing shelving, accessing mezzanine areas. Falls from heights are an extremely prevalent and a dangerous threat to construction workers and so needs to be managed accordingly. In the incident above the worker was instructed to perform a dangerous task from an unstable plywood platform erected as formwork for a concrete pour.

Even falls from relatively low height have the ability to cause very serious injuries and this incident involved a height of 3m which in itself is a risk. Injuries that can occur from falls include fractures, spinal cord injury, concussions and brain damage. Management of the risks can significantly reduce the number of deaths caused by falling.

The most common occurrence of incidents on construction sites involve workers falling according to statistics provided by authorities. This type of hazard also causes the most serious injuries which is why risk assessment and management is so important.

Extreme caution must be administered when working from a height, especially a height higher than 2 meters. Workers need to be aware of your surroundings and take note and caution of slippery boards on scaffolds and walkways, missing guardrails, openings in floors and penetrations that are not correctly protected. Workers should report all openings or missing railings so they can be corrected as soon as possible.

Relating to the hazard of falling is the issue of scaffolding work. When work from heights cannot be eliminated, the use of scaffolding is necessary. To comply with the applicable scaffolding regulations, all persons erecting or altering scaffold must be competent and certified to do so.

All scaffolds must be erected in compliance with statutory regulations and such scaffold and accessories must conform to regulations. Any damaged planks must be removed, kickboards must be secured in place and guardrails installed.

Mobile scaffolds present their own hazards, in that they are frequently used and must be erected as per regulations. They should be fitted with wheel locks which must be in place whenever people are working on the scaffold so that it doesn’t roll causing a fall.

All scaffolds should have an internal ladder for access. Climbing of scaffolding standards should not be allowed and tools and equipment should not be left lying around unattended on scaffolds as they tripping hazard they present can be compounded by a fall from a height.

Personal Protective Equipment is the form of Safety helmets must be worn at all times when working from a scaffold. Workers must be provided with a safety helmet which must be worn at all times.

 Posted by Steven Asnicar

White Card Update: Hazmat Incident on Construction Site

A gas leakage incident on a construction site this week has highlighted the need for contingency plans to be developed as part of every work sites safety plan in order to deal with emergencies such as this one.

According to Bendigoadvertiser.com.au this is what occurred:

Gas Leak06/07/12Pb Matt Kimpton

EMERGENCY services workers have cleared the scene of a gas leak in Mollison Street.

Bendigo CFA senior station officer Bruce Quarrier said contractors using an auger accidentally broke a gas line.

“They’d marked the area out but these things happen from time to time,” he said.

“It didn’t cause too much disruption.

“We were probably there for about 20 minutes.”

Police blocked the Williamson Street entry to Mollison Street for a short period of time.

Source: http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/hazmat-incident-at-mollison-street-site/2615896.aspx

Hazmat cases involve chemicals and other materials (in this case gas) that can cause harm to workers and other people, property or the environment through fire, explosion, reaction or release. Swift action is needed in these situations as delays could mean the difference between life and death. In order to be able to react quickly and without hesitation workers need to be appropriately trained and educated on workplace health and safety and management of hazards.

How to Manage a Hazmat Risk

The beginning of the process is Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Hazard Identification takes into the intrinsic hazards of the chemicals, hazards that are presented by the actual work environment and hazards that arise directly out of the work processes. Risk assessment in this situation would revolve around risk identification of physiochemical hazards.

Guidelines to Minimise Exposure to Hazardous Materials/Chemicals on Site:

  • As with all hazards the first attempt should always involve elimination of the hazard. This can be done by removing all non-essential hazardous material. If it is not crucial to the work process, try to do without it.
  • The second approach should be substitution, by using a less hazardous material or the same substance in a less hazardous form or process.
  • Engineering controls and administrative controls should be the attempted next if substitution does not sufficiently minimise the risk. An example would be to separate a process from people by distance or by barriers like separating the area for mixing and preparing chemicals with limited access.
  • An alternative may involve the use of machinery, equipment or processes that minimise workplace contamination by containing or removing hazardous material.
  • Change the way that people do the job or have procedures about how to do the job safely, like limiting the period of exposure for a worker, this is known as administrative control measures.
  • The final approach should be the provision and training on PPE. That includes clothing like respirators, gloves or eye protection that is suitable for the material, the task and the operator and is fitted to the worker. These PPE must be worn at all times and must comply with relevant Australian Standards.
  • These controls and PPE must be properly maintained and kept in good working order to ensure they are effective in minimising exposure to the hazardous chemical/material.
  • Monitor and carefully control the amount and level of the hazardous material in the workplace air so that a worker’s exposure is kept to a minimum that will not harm them.  
  • Worker exposure can be regularly monitored, estimated and compared with the exposure standards found in the Hazardous Substances Information System.
  • The employer must consult with the workplace health and safety committee representative when a new hazardous material is brought into the work environment or if the way the work process is carried out is changed.  
  • Employers should consult with workers regularly on workplace hazards and the effectiveness of current systems. Communication between workers and employers should be kept open so that workers can raise concerns about the way a hazardous material is used in the workplace with the committee or the Workplace health and safety representative.

According to advice given by WorkSafe Victoria, employers can use a generic risk assessment for their given industry as hazards, risks and work processes will be similar or the same. Rather than developing their own risk assessments that can use one from a similar workplace. An example given by WorkSafe is that of a service station who could use a generic risk assessment developed for other service stations rather than developing their own. The same is true of construction sites.

Posted by Steven Asnicar

 

White Card Update: Construction Safety Research Project Commences

An interesting post recently on SafetyCulture.com.au brought an important issue for the construction industry to light. Two construction giants have agreed to fund a safety research project following an incident six years ago. This is good news for construction workers as more undertakings of this nature can help shed some light on safety issues plaguing the industry.

The post on SafetyCulture.com.au had this to say:

Two big construction companies have agreed in to a $225,000 enforceable undertaking after two concrete panels fell from a contractor’s truck six years ago.

 The incident happened near the Eastlink tollway project at Ringwood in October 2006. The tollway was being constructed by the companies in a joint venture. They subcontracted other companies to transport the concrete panels which were used as sound barriers.

 Enforceable undertakings, according to WorkSafe Victoria, were a recommendation of the 2003 review of the Occupational Health and Safety Act by Chris Maxwell QC. They serve as an alternative to prosecution in some cases and can provide quicker resolution of an issue, but with a direct safety outcome.

 Instead of a prosecution with WorkSafe Victoria, the two companies will spend up to $225,000 to research best-practice for contractor engagement and management.

 Ian Forsyth, WorkSafe Victoria’s Deputy Chief Executive, said the research was a terrific outcome for workplace safety.

 “The money we would have expected to have been imposed as a fine will go directly toward a safety outcome with a practical application.

 “A significant part of the application of workplace health and safety is not just applying what the law says about basic obligations, but what is also ‘reasonably practicable’.”

 The companies will engage a WorkSafe-approved independent health and safety experts and report back to WorkSafe on their findings within six months.

 As part of the process, guidance materials will be developed and will be posted on the companies’ websites. These will be distributed to industry stakeholders.

 If the research project costs less than the set amount, the difference will be donated to Monash University’s Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research.

 The research will look at the selection, engagement, monitoring and management of specialist contractors which dominate major infrastructure projects.

Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php

Thankfully the 2 companies involved admitted to their shortcomings in failing to provide the appropriate training, safe work systems and supervision to workers although they were well aware of the risks.  It is hoped more research of this nature will help reduce the large number of injuries and fatalities we see on construction sites each year.

On a construction site there are some dangers that are more prevalent than others and are common to most construction sites, both  residential and commercial sites. Some of the other areas that warrant investigation due to their prevalence in construction are falls from heights, electrical hazards, working with dangerous plant, machinery and equipment. A shocking statistic was released recently which revealed that approximately 20 Victorian tragedies a week occur on housing construction sites alone, costing the industry a staggering $17million a year in medical costs, wages and other expenses. More research is required in these areas if we are to reduce the amount of lives lost and decrease the cost to the nation’s economy which is currently about $1.5billion annually.

The report goes on to state:

 The two companies admitted to failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work and provide information instruction, training and supervision, and ensuring that people other than workers were not exposed to risks.

 “What we achieved in this case is getting two major companies to pay for research that may have application elsewhere,” said Mr Forsyth.

 The company engaged in transporting the concrete panels was convicted and fined $30,000 in 2009.

 More information on enforceable undertakings can be accessed through WorkSafe’s Compliance and enforcement policy.

Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php

While construction is a rewarding industry, it requires attention to safety In order to maintain the health and safety of the workers on site. A prioritisation of safety begins with identifying the risks and developing a strategy In which to deal with these risks, by either substituting them with a less dangerous activity or minimising the risk using control measures.

Posted by Steven Asnicar

 

White Card Online News Update: Basic Construction Site Safety Tips

Work on a construction is dangerous, with a variety of different trades people working simultaneously at any given time, coordination of tasks and construction site safety is crucial to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for workers.   

While construction is a rewarding industry, it requires attention to safety In order to maintain the health and safety of the workers on site.

A prioritisation of safety begins with identifying the risks and developing a strategy In which to deal with these risks, by either substituting them with a less dangerous activities or minimising the risk using control measures.

On a construction site there are some dangers that are more prevalent than others and are common to most construction sites, be it residential or commercial sites.

Investigate potential hazards of the construction site before proceeding with your work. These include unstable grounds, power lines and hazardous materials. These are hazards that are unique to the site and vary from site to site.

Some sites may present a hazard of asbestos contamination while another may have unstable ground. These hazards need to be addressed before work can commence on the site and a plan needs to be developed and made available to all workers.

Evaluate the tools and equipment on a regular basis and evaluate their possible hazards, preferably before each day of construction work. Be sure electric tools and cords are stable with no sparks when plugged in and liquids are clear from any power lines as electrocution is a common occurrence on construction sites. Do not use a tool or equipment that feels unsafe or does not seem to be working properly. If tools or equipment are not working properly it should be reported immediately. One of the areas for concern on construction sites is working with tools and equipment. While they may be indispensable on a construction site, equipment and tools can pose a huge threat to the safety of workers if they are not utilised correctly. That is why proper training is necessary as well as adequate supervision for workers using dangerous equipment.  All tools, machinery and equipment must be checked before use and regularly maintained. If tools are kept in good working order they pose less of a threat to workers as they would if they were to malfunction.

Personal Protective Equipment is clothing or equipment designed to control risks to health and safety in the workplace. Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while at a construction site whether you are working or overseeing the work. This includes hard hats, safety glasses, dust masks, gloves and the proper clothing like thick-soled construction boots. Protect your ears around loud power equipment with earplugs. For night work or where there is poor visibility illuminous vests or protective equipment should be worn. As an employee in the construction industry you have a legal obligation to adhere to your employer’s health and safety requirements, including use of PPE if instructed by your employer. Refusal to cooperate with these safety policies can result in disciplinary action or prosecution. Employers have a responsibility to pay for and provide PPE and employees must utilise it as required.

Beware of the dangers of working in the sun or extreme heat. Avoid heat stroke and heat exhaustion by drinking plenty of water during the day and wearing a hat to protect your face from the sun. If you begin to feel faint or dizzy while working in hot weather, take a break in a shaded area and drink plenty of water until you are beginning to feel better. The risk involved with working in hot environments intensifies when high temperatures, high humidity and low air movement combine. Places with bad ventilation or confined areas are particularly susceptible to this. On construction sites work processes and equipment can generate even more heat which can be dangerous for its operator or other workers.

Most importantly ensure that ALL workers are adequately trained. Both site specific and general construction induction training is required for every worker. The good news is that workers can now obtain their general construction site training (White Card) online, which makes it both easy and convenient. It can be done from the privacy of your home or office and is valid nationally. This is a pre requisite to entrance as a worker on any construction site in Oz.

Posted by Steven Asnicar

 

 

White Card Online Info: Options and Opportunities

Why Am I Better Off Doing The White Card Course Online?

You may or may not be asking yourself if you should be doing the white card course online. I know that there are pros and cons for each side, whether it be doing it online or doing it in person during a working day. But you need to make up your mind in the end. Countless people believe that the white card process is better online, and some people still believe that they need to hear the course in person to fully comprehend it all. But why do you need to go somewhere in person to have that happen? What a lot of people don’t realize is that the white card online course reads out the different chapters to you, with a recorded voice much like it would be done in real life – so the feeling is still just as personal!

Whats The Real Differences Between White Card Online/In Person?

The white card online course has a few benefits, and these are as follows.

1. No time off work

2. No paying for transport or parking, petrol or accommodation

3. Learn at a speed and pace that is right for you

4. Save Money and Time

White CardKeeping Up To Date

It is important that you are always looking at the news for the construction industry, especially since the white card is now a national wide accepted card. Looking at the news for construction means that you informed about potential jobs around Australia. With the white card giving you access to all of Australia you can travel to area’s with the most work.  Yes, it is a lot of work, but there is a site that makes researching construction news in Australia simple, check it out here!

This site will give you up to date news on the construction industry in Australia, and it will also give you information on any potential changes in safety regulation around Australia so you can keep up with the white card safety practices.

Long Term

When thinking about going into construction consider the long term opportunities. Construction is a trade that will always be around, no matter what the economic climate. This is a plus if you are looking to make construction your career. Another aspect is the future of building projects and the way things will be built in the future.

Check out this pdf documenton the future of construction in Australia, it gives some detailed and interesting information! Remember though, that to be a part of this future in construction you need to go online and grab your construction induction card through the white card course!

The Future

3D constructing is an interesting process, and is done for almost every building nowadays, as it helps architects design the building exactly how they would like it. An interesting 3D construction is shown in this video on the concrete casing that is planned to encase chernobyl. Check it out!

Imagine if Chernobyl’s encasing was not done correctly! It would be very dangerous.

Grab Your White Card (Construction Induction Card) Today!

So what are you waiting for? The process is easy to start and from there it is straightforward and fast, you can complete it at whatever pace you want and if you fail a section – you can simply re take it! There’s another advantage – if you fail you dont have to pay for a second course, you can simply just re-take it!

 

White Card Online Info: Why Choose Construction?

White Card online teaches you how to be safe on a construction site. So why would you want to work in Construction?  There are several things about construction that you might find appealing.  It can be manual labor with your mates, that requires planning and creativity.  There are opportunities to progress career wise with promotions and bonuses.

What Kind Of Life Will I Expect?

A construction worker lives a pretty good life, and often progresses through the ranks to a more highly paid position. The work is challenging and the mates you will gain can become lifelong friends. You need to expect a hard days work every day, and you have to be able to think on the job, while always exercising safety and using your common sense. This is something that the white card online course teaches. You need to be on the ball all the time, as a lapse of judgement could result in the safety of a co-worker being compromised. When you are working with machinery and heavy equipment at heights, this can be very dangerous. But not only this, you need to be alert when constructing so that the building you make is safe and structurally sound.

White Card

 

 

It is important to remember just how necessary construction skills are in the modern world, and not just for constructing buildings, skyscrapers and houses, but also for restoring order when things don’t exactly go to plan. But construction itself ALWAYS has to go to plan. The video below demonstrates how construction of a temporary bridge was necessary in a fast and timely manner and construction skills came in very valuable!

 

 

 

A quarry can be a dangerous place to work, and a lot of accidents happen. This is the kind of thing that the government fights to avoid, and when you get your construction induction card hopefully you can help prevent such things.

Get Your White Card Today!

White Card Online provides more than just an oh&s white card that allows you onto construction sites in Australia. It gives you the ability to learn about safety on construction sites. It doesn’t matter if you are the safest guy on your site, there is always something more that you can learn about being safe.

White Card Course

So get online and get started today, so that you can start applying for jobs, and working on a construction site safely in Australia. Remember, that you aren’t just doing it for your own safety.  Protect NOT ONLY yourself, but also others too.

There are so many reasons to grab your white card online, and the first and foremost of which is that the white card allows you to work on any construction site around Australia, not like the previous blue card (qld). This is necessary for construction work and as such you should take advantage of the opportunities in the industry. The course online is fast and straightforward. It does not take a huge chunk out of your life and you can complete it on and off whenever you want.

 

White Card Online – Presents Scaffolding – Origins and Use

oh&s white card – Scaffolding is an interesting invention, and it has been used for decades. There are different kinds of scaffolding in different countries. They use bamboo as scaffolding in some Asian countries, and it is very dangerous. This danger is not something that you can expect in Australia as the white card online process ensures your safety when working on a construction site. This means that everyone on the site knows how to operate and work safely, and knows how to use scaffolding safely.

oh&s white cardIn The Ancient World – Before White Card Online!

Sadly, the White Card has not been around for ever! So safety on construction sites was not present in the ancient times, when scaffolding was first used. The first recorded scaffolding was in ancient Greece (the early 5th century). It was also used in Egypt, Nubia, and China around that time. This genius invention allows the construction of large and several story buildings. At this point in time, people couldn’t simply complete safety training in a fast online process!White Card Online

oh&s white cardIn the Modern Day

The modern day construction site is a lot safer than an older construction site, as you can see simply by looking at some historical photographs. The famous picture of construction workers eating their lunch on a piece of garter at the site of the new york empire state building, even shows that there are massive differences in safety standards between then and now. Nowadays, scaffolding must be approved and tested before being used. It is essentially a light construct that is used to gain access to higher stories in building site projects, so it can be very dangerous and requires a lot of safety regulation so that nobody is injured or hurt. When you look at it, you realize that it is just lightweight steel, that has revolutionized the building process.

oh&s white card Grab Your White Card Online Today!

oh&s white card – The White Card represents the safety training you have undertaken to allow you to work on a construction site. This kind of White Card Online training means that you can look out for your mates and yourself when on the construction site, to make dangerous construction safer.