BUILDING THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION – OHS ISSUES Presentation to School Principals 5 June 2009

Outline Role of WorkCover Principal Contractor provisions BER Specific Initiatives and Issues

Role of WorkCover

Principal Contractor provisions

BER Specific Initiatives and Issues

Role of WorkCover WorkCover NSW manages the State's workplace safety, injury management, and workers compensation systems. We work in partnership with the New South Wales community to achieve safe workplaces, effective return to work and security for injured workers

WorkCover NSW manages the State's workplace safety, injury management, and workers compensation systems.

We work in partnership with the New South Wales community to achieve safe workplaces,

effective return to work and security for injured workers

HOW WE DO IT THE IMPROVEMENT PYRAMID Assisting Compliance Confirmation of Advice Forms Information and awareness Consultation with stakeholders Advisory and technical services Targeted Prevention programs Economic Incentives Registration, notification, licensing and certification Verifying compliance Improvement Notices Incident investigation Targeted Workplace inspections Audits Sanctions Penalty notices Administrative actions Prohibition Notices Criminal & other proceedings Court orders

Principal Contractor Responsible for the construction work at all times until completed. Generally has control of worksite General duties under OHS Act 2000

Responsible for the construction work at all times until completed.

Generally has control of worksite

General duties under OHS Act 2000

Principal Contractor Chapter 8 of OHS Regulation 2001 Clauses 210 & 226 Must be appointed over $250 000 or high risk work < $250 000 Demolition or asbestos removal work

Chapter 8 of OHS Regulation 2001

Clauses 210 & 226

Must be appointed over $250 000

or high risk work < $250 000

Demolition or asbestos removal work

High Risk Work Structural alterations requiring temporary support Working above 3.0 m* Excavation more than 1.5 m Demolition work without license Tunnels, explosives, over water Near roads and moving plant Around gas or electrical installations

Structural alterations requiring temporary support

Working above 3.0 m*

Excavation more than 1.5 m

Demolition work without license

Tunnels, explosives, over water

Near roads and moving plant

Around gas or electrical installations

Principal Contractor duties Prepare Site Specific Safety Management Plan >$250 000 Ensure sub-contractors provide Safe Work Method Statements and work in accordance with them.

Prepare Site Specific Safety Management Plan >$250 000

Ensure sub-contractors provide Safe Work Method Statements and work in accordance with them.

Principal Contractor duties Ensure that OHS inductions are carried out and records kept Ensure that a Hazardous Substances register is implemented and maintained.

Ensure that OHS inductions are carried out and records kept

Ensure that a Hazardous Substances register is implemented and maintained.

For High Risk Work Principal Contractor appointed Safe work method statements submitted by contractors and reviewed for adequacy by principal contractor

Principal Contractor appointed

Safe work method statements submitted by contractors and reviewed for adequacy by principal contractor

Top 5 Risks Falls from height Being struck by falling objects Electrical Plant Structural collapse

Falls from height

Being struck by falling objects

Electrical

Plant

Structural collapse

WORK AT SCHOOLS – OUR EXPERIENCE There will be complaints Asbestos Working at height Traffic management Site Security

There will be complaints

Asbestos

Working at height

Traffic management

Site Security

WORKCOVER RESPONSE Communication and complaint handling protocols Appointment of Business Relationship Officers (Lead Inspectors) for each region or principal contractor Minimisation of “red-tape” Eg Waiving of notice period for asbestos removal in case of unexpected finds

Communication and complaint handling protocols

Appointment of Business Relationship Officers (Lead Inspectors) for each region or principal contractor

Minimisation of “red-tape”

Eg Waiving of notice period for asbestos removal in case of unexpected finds

Risk “Workshop” Refer to document Building the Education Revolution – Project OHSE Risks/Hazards

Refer to document

Building the Education Revolution – Project OHSE Risks/Hazards

Recently… Unplanned contact with hidden electrical, gas or telecommunication services Local emergency services not advised of changed site conditions (access points) because of construction activity Children or other persons at risk of being hit by moving plant or other vehicles accessing or exiting the site

Unplanned contact with hidden electrical, gas or telecommunication services

Local emergency services not advised of changed site conditions (access points) because of construction activity

Children or other persons at risk of being hit by moving plant or other vehicles accessing or exiting the site

More information Robert Mayell WorkCover NSW Hurstville Office Ph 9598 3334 or 0413 451432 Or 13 10 50 www.workcover.nsw.gov.au

Robert Mayell

WorkCover NSW

Hurstville Office

Ph 9598 3334 or 0413 451432

Or 13 10 50

www.workcover.nsw.gov.au