Media Release – SafeWork SA – Monday 12 December 2011
KEEP BUILDING SITES SAFE OVER HOLIDAY BREAK
SafeWork SA is urging the construction industry to do its utmost to ensure the safety of building sites being closed down over the Christmas/New Year break.
“Unfinished residential and commercial building sites have the potential to be dangerous places if safety and security are neglected,” says Acting Executive Director, Bryan Russell.
“The most obvious scenario is that of children gaining access to an unattended building site and coming to harm through any number of ways.
“Accordingly SafeWork SA is reminding builders of the need to ensure the holiday shutdown is properly planned and managed.”
SafeWork SA recommends the following are given priority before work ends:
• Lock the site securely ensuring that fencing and locks cannot be compromised
• Prevent access to scaffolds or formwork by removing ladders
• Ensure that electricity and any other utilities are switched off or isolated
• Remove or securely store hazardous or flammable liquids and materials.
• Remove all plant and machinery if possible
• If left on site, ensure all plant and machinery are locked and keys are removed
• Ensure that reinforcing starter bars are capped
• Eliminate or minimise potential tripping hazards.
“The law makes it quite clear that even though a construction site may not have any actual work occurring there, responsibility for its safety still rests with the person or entity who has control of it for the purpose of work,” Mr. Russell says.
“We believe these are simple and practical steps that all builders should take for the protection of their workers as well as the general public to whom they also owe a legal duty of care.
“Not only will such precautions pay dividends in general safety, they will also head off any unnecessary damage, disruption and expense that may be caused deliberately by vandals or inadvertently by others who might access a construction site without approval.
For answers and advice on workplace health and safety and the relevant laws, call SafeWork SA’s telephone Help
Centre on 1 300 365 255. To report serious incidents and injuries in the workplace call 1 800 777 209
For media inquiries only, contact Peter Adams, Chief Media Adviser,
SafeWork SA Ph: (08) 8204 9430 or 0434 603 861 www.safework.sa.gov.au
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