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Identify Construction Work Hazards and Select Risk Control

This document identifies and describes common construction hazards. It discusses hazards from hazardous substances like asbestos and chemicals, dust, manual handling, plant and equipment, UV radiation, noise, electricity, traffic, working at heights, excavations, confined spaces, collapse, hot/cold working environments, and infectious diseases. The document provides details on risks, controls, and safe work procedures to prevent injury from each hazard.

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robertpenghao
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17 views19 pages

Identify Construction Work Hazards and Select Risk Control

This document identifies and describes common construction hazards. It discusses hazards from hazardous substances like asbestos and chemicals, dust, manual handling, plant and equipment, UV radiation, noise, electricity, traffic, working at heights, excavations, confined spaces, collapse, hot/cold working environments, and infectious diseases. The document provides details on risks, controls, and safe work procedures to prevent injury from each hazard.

Uploaded by

robertpenghao
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Identify

Construction
Work Hazards
and Select Risk
Control
Part 3
How to Prepare a Job Safety
Analysis (JSA) and a Safe Work
Method Statement (SWMS)
Common Construction Hazards

Hazard: any thing (including an intrinsic property of a thing) or situation with the
potential to cause injury or harm
Hazardous substances and dangerous goods can include:
• asbestos, synthetic mineral fibres, cement dust, chemicals and solvents, custom wood and
wood dust etc
• It can take a long time after exposure before
hazardous substances can affect your health
• You must use the Hierarchy of Controls and PPE for protection
• You must follow correct procedures for handling and disposal of some materials (never try to
remove asbestos)
• Sometimes specialist training is needed before a material or good can be handled – check if you are
unsure
Common construction hazards
Asbestos (biggest killer of workers in Australia)

• Found in many areas including Non Friable (around eaves,


ceilings, wet areas etc)
• Friable (around hot water pipes etc)
• Never try to remove asbestos – law states that people who assess and remove asbestos must be
licensed
• You must immediately report the presence (or suspected presence) of asbestos

Chemicals and solvents

• Always check the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling


• SDS details safe handling and disposal procedures
• Must be supplied by PCBU
• If in doubt, isolate and check
Common Construction Hazards
Dust (wood or cement)

• Cement and gypsum-based materials found in things like


mortar, concrete and adhesives
• Excavation, demolition, traffic flow can cause dust problems
• Always comply with SDSs, wear approved respirator, eye protection and gloves, wet down
dusty areas, keep vehicle speed down, use wet methods when cutting, dispose of safely etc
Common Construction Hazards
Manual handling
• Activities that require you to use force to lift, lower,
push, pull, carry or move a load commonly cause injuries (eg breaks, twists, sprains,
ligament damage to shoulders, hands, neck, back and knees etc)
• Consider things such as the distance the object is to be moved, using mechanical
aids, your physical abilities etc
• If awkward or heavy, do not attempt by yourself
– organise others to help
Common Construction Hazards
Manual handling

• Activities that require you to use force to lift, lower,


push, pull, carry or move a load commonly cause injuries (eg breaks, twists,
sprains, ligament damage to shoulders, hands, neck, back and knees etc)
• Consider things such as the distance the object is to be moved, using mechanical
aids, your physical abilities etc
• If awkward or heavy, do not attempt by yourself
– organise others to help
Common Construction Hazards

Plant & equipment

• Use only if safe to use and fit for the purpose intended
• Live electrical equipment must never be worked on
until de-energised and/or physically isolated by a qualified person
(shut down and tag or lock out)
• Knife blades must be covered when not in use,
and locked in place when in use
Always look out for:
overhead power lines
exposed, moving mechanical components (eg gears, drive shafts, pulleys etc)
areas where there could be a release of steam, chemicals,
pressurised fluids, or biological hazards
Common Construction Hazards

UV radiation

• Comes from the sun as well as lasers, welding flashes and


high intensity lighting
• Passes through the skin and harms living body cells (sunburn) – eyes are also at risk
• Be sensible and protect your eyes and skin – wear correct PPE
(welding mask, sunglasses, hats, long sleeved shirts, sunscreen etc)
Common Construction Hazards

Noise
• Usually caused by vehicles/traffic, machinery and heavy
equipment, hand and explosive powered tools
• Can cause hearing loss or damage, stress, headaches,
problems with communication etc
• Always wear protection (eg plugs, ear muffs etc)
• Be aware of appropriate sound
levels or decibels
Common Construction Hazards
Electrical safety
• Hazards include energised equipment, electrical wires, power cords and tools, installed
photovoltaic (solar) panels etc
• You must report all electric shocks and short circuits
• Australian Standards and WHS legislation demand regular
routine inspections of electrical equipment
• All electrical equipment and power tools must be tested and tagged, used to manufacturers and
industry standards, unplugged when changing blades and fittings and checked before use for any
damage
• Electrical leads should be suspended off the ground
• Residual current device (RCD) is mandatory
Common Construction Hazards
Traffic & mobile plant
• You must be licensed to operate, and able to safely control

• You must carry out all pre-operational checks when starting or taking over
equipment (including warning and hazard signs and lights)

• You must follow rules and procedures,


eg work within specified areas, observe and
obey warning signs, be aware of people and
objects around you when working, replace or
check guards before and after use etc
Common Construction Hazards

Working at height and falls


• Falls are one of the most common forms
of serious injury or death in construction
• Risk is fall from height or from one level to another
• Where there is risk of a fall, the PCBU must ensure as far as reasonably
practicable that work is done on the ground or a solid construction
• Where risk can’t be eliminated (hierarchy of control), protection must be given
to you and used, regardless of the height
fall prevention device or work positioning system or fall arrest system
Common Construction Hazards

Working at height and falls (continued)


There are a number of things that must be
considered or done:
doing as much work as possible at ground level
protecting people below
using scaffolds or mobile work platforms if required – scaffolding
above 4 metres must be erected by a licensed scaffolder
when working above 2 metres, kick boards and hand railings
must be used
using edge protection or safety harnesses
3 types of harnesses - fall arrest harness, work positioning harness , work restraint harness
Common Construction Hazards

Excavations (including trenches)


• A trench is a deep hole, channel, ditch, or cut in the ground
• An excavation is a hole or cavity made by excavating
• All trenches and excavations must be barricaded or flagged off to warn people of their location and
to prevent accidental or unauthorised entry
• Generally, entry is not allowed immediately next to trenches/excavations that are 1.5 metres in
depth or more (unless sides are benched, battered or supported)
• Excavations deeper than 1.5 metres is classified as a high risk activity by the regulator (WorkSafe)
Common Construction Hazards

Confined spaces
A confined space is an enclosed (or partly enclosed) space that:
• is not designed or intended to be occupied by a person
• is (or is designed or intended to be) at normal atmospheric
pressure while a person is in the space
• is (or is likely to be) a risk to health and safety from:
• unsafe oxygen levels
• contaminants in the air (gas, vapours, dust etc) which can cause a fire or explosion
• harmful concentrations of contaminants in the air
• engulfment (eg by materials such as sand or water)
eg pits, tanks, ducts, pipes, pressure vessels, roof spaces etc
• Covered by an Australian Standard
• Requires special training and a confined space entry permit
Common Construction Hazards

Unplanned collapse
Poses a significant danger to construction workers
Can involve:
• collapse of a building or structure (or part of a building or structure) which is
weak or unstable before it has been completed
• collapse, overturning or failure of a load-bearing part of a lift, crane, hoist,
lifting gear or scaffolding
• collapse of shoring or an excavation which is more than 1.5 metres deep
Be aware of potential hazards and risks and comply with procedures, regulations and
Australian Standards (especially those related to maximum load limits of load
bearing equipment)
Common Construction Hazards

Hot and cold working environments


Some work sites and tasks may expose you to hot or cold working environments with particular risks
(work outdoors → UV radiation, wind chill, thermal hazards etc)
The effects of heat and cold on the body are affected by the environment through:
• air temperature (how hot or cold the surrounding air is)
• humidity (the moisture content in the air)
• air movement including wind speed and air circulation
• radiant heat (from the sun, given out by plant, buildings, equipment etc)
You must understand the difference between discomfort, and hypothermia, heat stroke and heat
exhaustion which can mean serious medical conditions
Common Construction Hazards

Infectious diseases
Found in blood and other body fluids (eg HIV, hepatitis etc)
Transmission will usually occur if:
• hypodermic needles or other sharp instruments contaminated with infected
blood or body fluids penetrate the skin
• infected blood or body fluids splash into your eye or other mucous membranes
or onto broken skin
Some work activities have increased risk, such as plumbers exposed to syringe left in
toilet, workers using sharp instruments or tools that might penetrate skin
Common Construction Hazards

Infectious diseases (continued)


You must ensure that you protect yourself and others
(use PPE, cover wounds, cuts and abrasions with dressings, use proper cleaning
materials such as bleach, etc)
If exposure happens, you need to act immediately:
• wash exposed body part with soap and water or 70% alcohol rub
• eyes - rinse with tap water or saline
• mouth – spit out and rinse continually with water
• notify your supervisor and health and safety representative as soon as possible

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