Occupational health and safety on construction sites may seem like a heavy burden. It can be especially challenging when you have several construction projects, contractors, and deadlines to meet. But it is not an option. The consequences of not fulfilling OHS obligations can be severe.

In this guide, we offer practical guidanceto ensure you remain compliantand maintain the safety of sites.

Know your lawful responsibilities

The first step is to know what is required of you. In Australia, the OHS responsibilities are established through the legislation and regulations of states and territories. The laws demand that you, as a builder/ site manager, do all reasonably practicable to secure the health and safety of everyone on site.

Here are the main things to note:

• Duty of care: You must provide a safe working environment.
• Consultation: You should consult workers regarding safety risks and control measures.
• Compliance documentation: You must maintain compliance records. For instance, Safe Work Method Statements.

Please check your state’s Work Health and Safetylegislation.

Evaluate workplace hazards

The first thing is to identify risks. Construction sites are hazardous in nature. Some of the common risks are:

• Falls

• Machinery accidents
• Manual handling injuries 
• Exposure to harmful substances.

Take these practical steps:

• Site inspection. Do this before work commences.
• Identifying the possible dangers on site.
• Evaluating the probability and magnitude of every risk.
• Adopting control measures. Focuson measures that eliminate the risk.

You might want to use a risk register or checklist. This is to make sure that you do not miss any of the risks. You should also review themregularly.Conditions and hazards may change during a project.

Introduce Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)

High-risk construction activities must have a set of Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) that are legally mandated. They outline the safety of a task to be performed.

Important components of a SWMS are:

• The description of the work.
• Occupational health and safety hazards.
• Risk control measures.
• Personalities and duties of employees and managers.
• Emergency procedures.

Before commencing the work, you will have to make sure that the workers read and comprehend the SWMS.BuilderShieldtools can help keep SWMS accessible and organized. In addition,reviewing SWMS periodically is a good practice. This is important if work methods or conditions at the site vary.

Carry out site and plant inductions

Inductions play a very important role in the compliance and safety of workers. A site induction should be given to every worker, contractor, or visitor who enters a construction site.

What to cover in inductions:

• Site plan and fire exit.
• OHS policies and procedures
• PPE and hazard awareness.
• Injuries or incident reporting procedures.
• Any site-specific risks.

Plant inductions are also to be carried out in case your site involves the use of machinery or plants. These address safe operation, maintenance, and possible hazards of equipment. Inductions must be recorded.Even understanding by workers should be verified.

Conduct continuous training

You should reinforce OHS compliance through continuous training. Toolbox talks are brief. They are informal conversations on a particular safety issue. You can hold themat the beginning of the shift or week.

Effective toolbox talks must:

• Target only one topic or risk.
• Be interactive and allow questions.
• Point out recent accidents or close calls.
• Be recorded to ensure that it is compliant.

Frequent training makes safety a priority. It also reminds everyone on siteof their responsibilities.

Maintain accurate records

Regulatory bodies may request evidence of OHS management at any given time. Hence, maintenance of proper records is very important.

Essential records include:

• High-risk activity SWMS.
• Visitor and worker induction records.
• Toolbox talk records.
• Incident and injury reports.
• Audits and inspections of safety.

Digital solutions simplify and correct record-keeping. Having all in a single place minimizes the possibility of missing documents.

Ensure contractor and subcontractor compliance

As a major contractor, it is your duty to make sure that all parties adhere to the OHS requirements.

Some measures to manage contractors include:

• Demand evidence of inductions and training before the commencement of work.
• Ensure that contractors are using relevant SWMS.
• Supervise work.
• Maintain records of audits and correspondence.

Conduct regular site visits and inspections. This will help ensure that subcontractors do not create unsafe conditions on your site.

Monitor and report incidents

Maybe you have a good OHS system. However, accidents may still happen. Timely reporting and enquiry are essential for compliance and the reduction of risks in the future.

Here is what to do:

• Immediately report injuries or near misses.
• Fill out incident forms correctly and completely.
• Enquire into root causes and take corrective measures.
• Conduct follow-up to prevent recurrence.

Incidents can enhance your resolve to comply with OHS.

Check and revise policies on a frequent basis

Building sites and policies keep changing all the time. Therefore, policies and procedures should not be static.

Best practices include:

• Re-examine OHS policies yearly or every time there is a change in regulations.
• Revise SWMS to include new risks or equipment.
• Informall the workers, contractors, and the site managers about the changes.
• Trackupdates and compliance using a centralized system.

Frequent updates will make sure that your safety management system is effective and compliant.

Implement technology to make compliance easy

Handling OHS compliance in several locations, contractors, and employees may prove overwhelming. You can make it easier with digital toolsand portals. They allow you to:

• Digitally store and manage SWMS, inductions, and training records.
• Give access to policies and SDS registers through links or QR codes.
• Record the incidents, toolbox talks, and inspections in a single location.

Technology will not substitute your duties. But it will ensure that the process of compliance is more efficient and reliable, particularly when dealing with busy construction sites.

Summing up

Every construction business has the legal and moral obligation to adhere to OHS compliance. The inability to fulfill commitments may expose your employees to danger, attract hefty fines, and tarnish your reputation.

You can adopt self-serving digital tools that facilitate easier monitoring of inductions, SWMS, toolbox talks, and incident reporting. When you store all your safety records in a place where they can be accessed and updated, you minimize the chances of non-compliance.