White Card Update: SA Unions concerned about Exploitation of Teenage Workers

We have in the past discussed the vulnerability of young workers in the construction industry and the importance that they are appropriately trained and supervised. Now the SA unions and parents of teenage workers are concerned about the exploitation of teenage workers who are simply working over the school holidays to make some extra pocket money.

This is of particular concern in SA and Tasmania because these states lack the child labour laws that are present in other states which stop these young people from being exploited by their employers because of their naivety and inexperience.

In addition there are concerns that young workers are more easily bullied and tend to keep quiet about the bullying.

The Young Workers Legal Service in South Australia is inundated every year will calls from parents concerned about these youth employment issues.

Some of the issues include bullying, sexual harassment, underpayment of wages and unfair dismissal. There are now calls for specific laws to be developed for workers who are under 18.

When it comes to the construction industry, most of the concern lies around the fact that young workers in this industry aren’t given the training and supervision that they need to work safely while engaging in such high-risk work.

Quite often young workers will be asked to complete tasks which they have not be specifically trained to undertake and because of their shyness and fear to ask, they attempt to undertake the task and end up being injured and in some circumstances even killed.

Firstly before hiring young people to work on a construction site, it is vital to ensure that they have completed general construction industry safety training. This training known as The White Card course will familiarise these young workers with the hazards that lie on construction sites so that they will be better equipped to handle the risks associated with these hazards if and when they come across them on site.

Training is the foundation upon which employers can build an attitude of safety among workers. Any worker who enters into the construction industry must first undergo safety training, according to Australian legislation including teenage workers who are working casually on site.

More than just fulfilling a mandatory legal requirement, safety induction training also lays the foundation of safety knowledge which workers will utilise every time they step onto a construction site.

When a young worker steps onto a construction site, chances are they are not familiar with hazards associated with the machinery, equipment, general environment, work processes etc. which makes them vulnerable to injury and their inexperience could place others on site at risk as well.

In addition to ensuring that each young worker is in possession of a White Card, employers must also ensure that these young people receive additional site specific training as well as additional training relating to the tasks they are given. No matter how much training these young workers are given, it is still important to ensure that they are being adequately supervised.

Avoiding Injury from Falling Objects

On a construction site the actions of one person have far reaching repercussions and affect one or many other workers. Also the inaction of members of the industry can also have negative consequences for workers. As a worker on a construction site you are often at the mercy of one or many co-workers or employer and vice versa, your actions also affect them.

One of the hazards associated with this is that of falling objects – when a worker drops an object from above it may very likely injure or even kill someone below or a workers neglect may result in building materials or equipment falling from one level to the next, injuring people below. Even people in the adjacent areas are at risk. That is why principal contractors must manage these risks effectively.

An incident which took place recently is an example of what can happen if these hazards are’nt addressed. A worker on a construction site in Camperdown, inner Sydney has died after being hit by a number of metal beams.

The incident has attracted alot of attention not just because a worker was fatally injured but because just 2 weeks earlier the CFMEU had made accusations that safety at the Sydney construction site was neglected.

The accident which took place on a renovation project within the former headquarters of the New South Wales Nurses Association, happened just before midday when a 22 year old worker was hit by falling metal beams. The worker sustained injuries to his head and chest and tragically died on the scene.

This incident is particularly eye opening because it highlights the importance of addressing safety issues immediately. This incident could have been avoided if those in control of safety on the site had heeded the warnings of the union, only 2 weeks prior. On a hazardous construction site, proactive safety measures are necessary to avoid incidents. This site was obviously guilty of a number of safety failings and was shut down at Easter because of these safety concerns.

The workers involved in the incident had only been working at the company for about a week and was in Oz on a holiday work VISA. The CFMEU expressed its anger that warnings to the company about safety had been ignored which directly led to the death of the worker.

The incident happened as builders were digging at the bottom of the building and one of the slabs collapsed.

Even if hazards are addressed before work begins, employers should still review safety every so often to ensure that controls are still effective to address hazards and to ensure no new hazards have arisen which threaten worker’s safety.

Every employer has a responsibility to provide workers with a safe work environment and safe system of work, this includes prevention of free falling objects and where fall prevention is not possible a system to arrest falling objects before it can cause injury to workers.

 

 

 

White Card Update: How you can protect your Workers against Fires

Every year there a number of serious fires on construction sites and buildings undergoing refurbishment, placing workers as well as others in the vicinity at risk.

Those in control of the site need to carry out a risk assessment to determine the extent of the danger. In many cases conducting a risk assessment will be a relatively straightforward process but should be carried out by someone who is responsible and competent enough to do so.

When conducting a fire risk assessment there are 5 basic steps that should be followed.

Firstly the hazards should be identified, this may include considering how a fire could start and what could be a fire hazard.

The risk assessment should take into consideration who may be at risk – employees, visitors and anyone who is vulnerable like disabled people.

The next step would be to evaluate and take the necessary action. They should consider the hazards and people identified to be at risk and act to remove or at least reduce risk to protect these people.

Thereafter the person conducting the risk assessment must keep a record of the risks and action taken, make a clear plan for fire safety and ensure that everyone is aware of what they need to do in the event of a fire.

Construction being such a dynamic industry, the work processes and work environment change every so often, that is why regular review of the plan is necessary. Regularly check whether the plan is still effective depending on the changes to the site.

Some of the key aspects to consider when it comes to this fire plan is:

Means of escape

  • Routes of escape
  • Alternatives
  • Protection
  • Signs
  • Assembly points

When considering the best means of escape during the risk assessment process, escape routes required should be determined and these should be kept clear, open and unobstructed at all times.

There should also be alternative routes in the event that these routes of escape become affected by the fire.

Those in control of the site should consider protecting routes by installing permanent fire separation and fire doors.

These escape routes should give access to a safe place where workers can assemble and be accounted for, a fair distance away from the site. One a smaller site this may be the pavement outside of the site or across the street.

These escape routes should be adequately marked with signs that are clearly visibly and well lit. Enclosed escape routes should have lighting and emergency lighting in case the electricity is cut off during the incident.

Each site should have a way of alerting people of any fires or emergency situations on site. The warning should be audible enough for everyone on the site to hear and they should be trained to recognise this warning.

All workers should be trained on emergency response procedures as well as how to deal with hazards, this training is in addition to the mandatory White Card induction training that all workers must undergo.

 

White Card Update: Concrete Slab Crushes Worker on Sydney Site

An incident which happened last week has made headlines on most news sites because it was a freak accident which almost claimed the life of a worker in a site in Sydney.

A worker engaged in work on a construction site in Sydney was injured when a slab of concrete panels that was being lifted by crane to a second storey of the construction project fell. It appears that chains restraining the load gave in or were not properly fastened causing the load to fall 12 meters and hit the roof of a truck.

The victim was a 48 year old man who was standing on the truck when it was hit by the concrete slab, causing him to be stuck in the cab of the truck for almost an hour.

Although NSW Ambulance stabilised the man while he was in the truck, he was later taken to Royal Prince Alfred hospital in a stable condition with back and hip pain.

This excerpt from an article on DailyTelegraph.com.au explains what happened:

In a separate incident in Ultimo, a concrete slab fell 12 metres onto a 48-year-old man after it came out of its chains at the Haymarket work site about 11.30am.

The man was guiding crane operators when the crane reportedly swung into a metal loading platform which dislodged the concrete. He was stuck for almost an hour before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with back and hip injuries.

A hospital spokeswoman declined to give an update on the man’s condition.

Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/a-worker-has-been-injured-after-a-slab-of-material-fell-from-a-crane-onto-him-as-he-stood-on-truck/story-fni0cx12-1226691644275

The worker was lucky that the concrete was made from Hebel – a form of aerated concrete which weighs only about one quarter of the weight of regular concrete.

In another incident a 53 year old man wasn’t as lucky when a 2 tonne concrete block fell off a forklift as it was being moved. The man was trapped underneath the heavy slab for about 20 minutes but sadly succumbed to his injuries a short time after.

A post on DailyTelegraph.com.au explains what happened:

A 53-YEAR-OLD man died after a two-tonne concrete block fell off a moving forklift and crushed him at a worksite on the south coast.

Emergency services were called to Foreshore Rd in Port Kembla about 10.15am after the man became trapped under the concrete block.

He was trapped for nearly 20 minutes until police and ambulance officers freed him, a police spokeswoman said.

The man was taken to Wollongong Hospital in a critical condition. He died in hospital shortly after his arrival.

Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/a-worker-has-been-injured-after-a-slab-of-material-fell-from-a-crane-onto-him-as-he-stood-on-truck/story-fni0cx12-1226691644275

Police detectives and WorkCover representatives are looking into the cause of both the incidents. The fact that both these incidents occurred within the same week highlights the importance of safety when lifting loads on construction sites because as these cases highlight the consequences for mistakes can be fatal. Improperly secured loads are a major problem which should never even be occurring, especially when the risks of injuries are so great.

 

White Card Update: Managing Risks Associated with Electrical Arc Flash Events

One of the most effective ways of managing electrical arc flash events is by implementing the appropriate controls and utilising the correct PPE.

Arc flash PPE should be chosen based on either:

  • an incident energy analysis method or
  • a hazard/risk category method.

It is surprising the amount of electrical flash-overs or arc flash accidents that occur every year causing worker injury and fatalities.

Perhaps what is most concerning about arc flashes is that it doesn’t only affect workers in close proximity but when caused by inadvertent contact between an energised conductor with another conductor or an earthed surface, an arc flash can melt conductors, ionise the air and develop into a conducting flash arc within which temperatures have been known to reach 20,000°C, so even workers not working in close proximity to electrical conductors may be at risk.

Injuries caused by arc flashes can burn the skin quite badly and can also result in internal burns from inhaling hot gasses and vaporised metal. Worker’s eyesight and hearing may also be negatively affected. Fatalities have been known to occur during these events.

In some extreme cases arc flashes can involve explosive force known as an arc blast which can launch shrapnel at high speeds of up to 300 metres per second, leading to even more injury.

Usually workers who are exposed to arc flashes and arc blasts usual suffer serious injury which require extensive treatment to correct, that means time off work, loss of income and loss of productivity.

According to the UK standard dealing with an Arc Flash hazard needn’t be complicated, it can be handled in a matter of a few steps:

  • Prediction: Predict the likelihood of an arc flash occurring and the severity and scope of the impact. The prediction is made by assessing the amount of ‘incident energy’ received during an event by a person within the reach of the arc.
  • Prevention: Attempt to prevent arc flashes from occurring. Ensure that the risk from arc flash is addressed at this level through either designing out, elimination entirely or by remove the hazard at its source.
  • Personal Protective Equipment: This should always be the last line defence in dealing with arc flash events. Risk assessments for those working on or in close proximity to energised electrical equipment will likely indicate a requirement for full-body electrical PPE, in other words an arc flash hood and gauntlets.
  • Communication and Training: The communication and documentation of both the assessment and strategies or steps that are in place to ensure safety must be provided to those at risk from an arc flash event. Workers must be trained on the hazards that they face, that includes electrical risks. Also employers must continuously assess whether controls that are in place are still effective or whether they need to be adjusted in order to remain effective in controlling the hazard.

 

White Card Update: Concrete Slab Crushes Worker on Sydney Site

An incident which happened last week has made headlines on most news sites because it was a freak accident which almost claimed the life of a worker in a site in Sydney.

A worker engaged in work on a construction site in Sydney was injured when a slab of concrete panels that was being lifted by crane to a second storey of the construction project fell. It appears that chains restraining the load gave in or were not properly fastened causing the load to fall 12 meters and hit the roof of a truck.

The victim was a 48 year old man who was standing on the truck when it was hit by the concrete slab, causing him to be stuck in the cab of the truck for almost an hour.

Although NSW Ambulance stabilised the man while he was in the truck, he was later taken to Royal Prince Alfred hospital in a stable condition with back and hip pain.

This excerpt from an article on DailyTelegraph.com.au explains what happened:

In a separate incident in Ultimo, a concrete slab fell 12 metres onto a 48-year-old man after it came out of its chains at the Haymarket work site about 11.30am.

The man was guiding crane operators when the crane reportedly swung into a metal loading platform which dislodged the concrete. He was stuck for almost an hour before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with back and hip injuries.

A hospital spokeswoman declined to give an update on the man’s condition.

Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/a-worker-has-been-injured-after-a-slab-of-material-fell-from-a-crane-onto-him-as-he-stood-on-truck/story-fni0cx12-1226691644275

The worker was lucky that the concrete was made from Hebel – a form of aerated concrete which weighs only about one quarter of the weight of regular concrete.

In another incident a 53 year old man wasn’t as lucky when a 2 tonne concrete block fell off a forklift as it was being moved. The man was trapped underneath the heavy slab for about 20 minutes but sadly succumbed to his injuries a short time after.

A post on DailyTelegraph.com.au explains what happened:

A 53-YEAR-OLD man died after a two-tonne concrete block fell off a moving forklift and crushed him at a worksite on the south coast.

Emergency services were called to Foreshore Rd in Port Kembla about 10.15am after the man became trapped under the concrete block.

He was trapped for nearly 20 minutes until police and ambulance officers freed him, a police spokeswoman said.

The man was taken to Wollongong Hospital in a critical condition. He died in hospital shortly after his arrival.

Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/a-worker-has-been-injured-after-a-slab-of-material-fell-from-a-crane-onto-him-as-he-stood-on-truck/story-fni0cx12-1226691644275

Police detectives and WorkCover representatives are looking into the cause of both the incidents. The fact that both these incidents occurred within the same week highlights the importance of safety when lifting loads on construction sites because as these cases highlight the consequences for mistakes can be fatal. Improperly secured loads are a major problem which should never even be occurring, especially when the risks of injuries are so great.

 

White Card Update: Top 10 Construction Safety Issues

The truth is there are a myriad of safety issues on construction sites especially the larger sites where a number of different tradespeople are working simultaneously in a somewhat confined space – exacerbating the risks.

There are however some construction issues that are more prevalent and keep rearing their heads on sites across the country, while the white card course teaches workers what the most common construction hazards are and how to minimise the risk involved with them, here are some safety tips for issues that keep popping up:

  • Maintain good housekeeping and clean up daily: Surprisingly slips and trips are one of the most common causes of workplace injuries. To minimise this risk ensure that trash, spills and unsafe obstacles are cleaned up or removed in a timely manner. The likelihood of an accident is reduced a great amount by keeping the place clean, orderly and uncluttered.
  • Ensure the premises are secure: It is important to keep unauthorized individuals from entering your workplace. Ensure access is strictly controlled and the entire area is properly fenced and high risk areas are cordoned off exclusion zones.
  • Be Prepared for Emergencies: Emergencies such as fires, natural disasters and even health crises of workers (for example cardiac arrests) can happen on the site and it is vital that the appropriate plan is designed and taught to workers to know how to react in these situations. For example in the event of a fire workers need to know how to avoid harm and the emergency escape routes etc. Ensure that workers have a safe route of escape should an emergency occur on the site. This will involve identifying safe escape routes and ensuring that they are marked clearly and kept unobstructed at all times. Workers should get to know the emergency response procedures and escape routes well- there is no time for confusion when an emergency does occur.
  • Stay Equipped: Not only must PPE be provided by employers, but training and instruction on the correct use must also be provided. Workers have the responsibility of ensuring they utilise, correctly the PPE that is provided to them, for their own safety. Ensure that you are utilising the personal protective equipment that you are provided and instructed to utilise by your employer. Keep your safety equipment in good order and up to date.
  • Communicate about safety issues: Ensure that you maintain good communication and report any safety issues and near misses on site. Also keep an eye on your co-workers to ensure that they are operating safely and sticking to the control measures as you have been trained to. Because workers are on ground level and are continuously coming into contact with various hazards they can provide valuable information and guidance to employers with regards to safety measures. Also because they are the ones encountering safety precautions, they are the best to use to evaluate safety systems set in place. Employers need to listen to workers and consult with them on safety issues.

 

White Card Update: Asbestos – Who to Contact in Crisis

With the recent discovery of asbestos on multiple sites across the country, posing a risk to workers and the public including the discovery on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and near a childcare centre in the city, it is useful for people to know what to do when they find asbestos illegally dumped in the surroundings in order to minimise the risk to themselves and their families.

Asbestos is a carcinogen which means that it has cancer causing abilities, something that certain contractors seem to forget.

The use of all forms of asbestos has been banned in Australia since the end of 2003 but often when contractors are called in to homes to undertake renovation and revamping work they may disturb asbestos fibres in already existing asbestos containing materials in the home, often placing the homes occupants and workers on the site at risk. The danger involved with asbestos is the risk airborne asbestos fibres cause when inhaled by humans and animals over a period of time.

Watch this video from WorkSafe which explains more about who to contact if asbestos is discovered at your home or surroundings:

Link: http://youtu.be/Q0L-istUdzA

White Card Update: Tackling Suicide in Construction

The problem of suicide amongst construction workers is intensified by the prevalence of stress and anxiety amongst these workers which is reported to be higher than it is for workers in any other sector.
According to research by the Building Employees Redundancy Trust, a significantly elevated rate of suicide is prevalent in the Queensland construction industry.

According to a recent report construction workers are at least 6 times more likely to commit suicide than they are to die from a work related accident – shocking! We place so much emphasis on managing hazards and encouraging worksite health and safety but most employers are ignoring an even bigger threat, the mental health of workers.

Young workers in the construction industry are particularly vulnerable because as research indicated workers between the ages of 15-24 are almost twice as more likely to be commit suicide that all other age groups of men.

This is probably because of the stress and pressure of life on a construction site which perhaps young workers are not mentally developed enough to deal with.

The report also discovered that one in every twenty construction workers would probably contemplate suicide each year.
Some of the reasons for high suicide rates amongst the construction industry as suggested by the organisation are:
The hazardous nature of construction work – it can be extremely stressful to have to constantly be engaged in high risk activities, especially as a young worker. It can feel overwhelming to become accustomed to the construction environment, especially for workers coming straight out of a school environment.

Another issue that may contribute to the stress of working in construction is long, physically demanding hours of work and the pressure of having to complete projects on deadlines. Also the transient and insecure nature of employment can be very stressful for workers in the construction industry because they do not enjoy the same job security as workers in other industries do.

But work isn’t the only factor contributing to suicidal tendencies in construction workers, personal or lifestyle factors can also play a part in a person’s mental state. According to the report factors such as relationship problems, alcohol or substance abuse or financial distress can also weigh on a person’s emotions and result in depression and suicide.

One of the initiatives that have been implemented is the “Mates in Construction” program. The program is an initiative of BERT and other key players in the Queensland construction industry and is based on best practice principles and expert advice relating to suicide prevention.

The Mates in Construction Program attempts to teach workers to recognise and identify early warning signs of suicidal tendencies in their co-workers because it is thought that many people who commit suicide show signs before doing so. Co-workers of these suicidal employees are taught to provide them with appropriate support and perhaps help save a life.

This video explains further:

http://youtu.be/1v8uqRU3SPc

White Card Update: Importance of Education for Young Workers

The importance of education for young inexperienced and apprentice workers has once again come under the spotlight, this time in the wake of calls from New South Wales based youth organisation, “Youthsafe”.

Youthsafe has called for increased supervision, education and support for workers particularly between the ages of 15-25, who studies have revealed are most at risk to workplace injuries.

The organisation has reiterated that safety education needs to be designed specifically to young people’s needs because they are still very much undergoing development both physically, mentally and emotionally, special training and education is therefore needed in order to safeguard them against injuries, particularly within high risk industries such as construction.

Youthsafe as an organisation is concerned with the overall safety of youth, in the workplace, on the road, in sport and in society in general. They have emphasised the importance of developing and implementing tailor made education for young people, which they could more easily relate to and understand.

Science has proven that people between the ages of 15-25 are still growing and developing, mentally which influences the way in which they process information, in other words the way they think is not necessarily conducive to issues of safety, which often places them at risk. Young workers, according to the non-profit organisation, do not consider safety issues as regularly as they should, they often risk their health and safety and tend to forget about safety precautions such as PPE, safe work methods etc.

This year alone, a number of young and apprentice construction workers have been injured while engaging in high risk work, most of which were working unsupervised at the time.

This article from SafetyCulture.com.au explains more about Youthsafe’s calls:

YouthsafeYouthsafe has highlighted the need for tailored education after research has shown that young brains continue to develop till the age of 25 and up until that point there is a reduced ability for planning and assessing risks and potential outcomes in the workplace.

Spokesperson for Youthsafe Duncan McRae said that young workers need increased levels of support and strategies that will help them to identify possibly risky behaviour in the workplace.

He said that the studies have illustrated that people in the 15 to 25 year old age bracket are still experiencing considerable changes in the way they think and process information which may not necessarily take into account issues of safety.

Mr McRae said that the adolescent brain develops and processes information differently to an adult brain.

He said that when they are in the mentioned phase they tend not to consider safety in the workplace like wearing PPE, risks with driving vehicles or equipment or the dangers of machinery that they may be using.

Youthsafe is a not for profit organisation whose aim is to prevent young people being injured and they want to send out the message that the emotions and feelings in the young brain tend to dominate any protective functions.

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/06/workplace-safety-education-needed-for-younger-workers/

Visit http://www.youthsafe.org/ for more information from Youthsafe about protecting young workers.