eddie, Author at HazardCo AU

Thank you to everyone who entered our ‘From Hard Hats to Holidays – Win a $4,000 Escape!’ competition during October. Keep an eye out in your inbox for our health and safety updates.

Congratulations to the winner:

Travis from G.J. Gardner Homes Warragul

From 1 October 2025, SafeWork NSW is rolling out a Silica Worker Register (SWR), a new system to track workers doing jobs that expose them to respirable crystalline silica dust.

If your crew cuts, drills, grinds, or polishes concrete, bricks, tiles, or any other silica-containing material, this change affects you.

What is the Silica Worker Register?

The SWR is an online register where businesses (PCBUs) must record details of any worker carrying out high-risk silica work.

This helps SafeWork NSW track exposure, monitor worker health, and prevent silicosis and other dust-related diseases.

Key start date: 1 October 2025

Timeframe: You must register a worker within 28 days of them starting high-risk silica work.

Who needs to be registered?

You’ll need to register any worker who performs high-risk silica tasks, such as:

Cutting, grinding, drilling or polishing materials with crystalline silica
Tunnelling, demolition, quarrying, or manufacturing using silica-rich materials

If you’re unsure whether work is high-risk, play it safe and register your workers.

What details you need to provide

You’ll need to enter details for both your business and the worker, including:

Business name, ABN, contact info
Worker’s name, date of birth, and contact info
Worksite location and start date
Health monitoring provider (if applicable)

Why it’s important

The register is part of NSW’s effort to reduce silica-related disease and improve worker safety across construction and trades.

Failing to register can lead to penalties but more importantly, this is about keeping your crew healthy and protected.

What Should Do Now

Identify high-risk tasks on your sites.
Collect worker details and keep them on file.
Set up a reminder system to register within 28 days.
Continue dust control measures like wet cutting, PPE, and ventilation.
Talk to your team and explain the changes and why they’re important.

The Silica Worker Register isn’t just more paperwork, it’s about protecting your team’s health.

Need help?

Check out these additional resources:

Blog – Silica dust: What is it? and How does it affect your health
Blog – Working with silica

Or call our Advisory Team on 1800 954 702.

This blog is based on a webinar we ran earlier this year. You can get access to the recording here.

A visit from a safety regulator can make even the most experienced builder a little nervous. But as HazardCo’s Senior Health and Safety Advisor, Glenn Smith, shared in a recent webinar, these visits are not always about catching people out, they’re about ensuring everyone goes home safe at the end of the day.

Why Regulators Visit

Regulators such as WorkSafe or SafeWork might visit your site for several reasons:

Routine inspections as part of general compliance checks
Follow-ups after incidents or previous visits
Complaints from the public or nearby residents
Or even random drive-bys if a site appears unsafe

“Sometimes they’re just checking in, other times they’re responding to a concern,” Glenn explains. “But they’re not out to get you – they just want to make sure people are working safely.”

What To Do When They Arrive

First rule: don’t panic. Always welcome the inspector onto your site politely and check their ID to confirm who they are. Regulators are usually easy to identify with branded uniforms, badges, and vehicles.

Be open and cooperative. “Don’t drop your hammer and bolt, they’re just doing their job,” Glenn says. Provide the documents they ask for, such as your SWMS, safety plans, induction records, and toolbox meeting notes.

Being organised makes a great first impression. Inspectors are far more comfortable when they can see your systems are in order. Having everything stored digitally, such as in the HazardCo App, can make this process fast and stress-free.

Want to know more?

To find out the common mistakes to avoid and how to be inspection ready all year round, watch the webinar recording.

If you’re after more information about what to expect when your worksite is inspected by WorkSafe/SafeWork, check out this blog.

When you’re running a construction site, there’s already enough on your plate, the last thing you need is to be drowning in paperwork or missing a key safety step. That’s why we’ve pulled together a straightforward checklist to keep your team safe, your site compliant, and your projects moving smoothly.

Here’s a brief overview:

Before You Kick Off the Project

Think of this as your pre-game warmup. Get these things sorted before the first nail goes in:

Create a Site Safety Plan (SSSP) – Who does what, how you’ll handle risks, safety rules, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Put up a Principal Contractor sign – Make it clear who’s in charge, with contact details in case of emergencies
Fence the site – Keep it secure so no one wanders in by accident.
Amenities – Provide the basics, toilets, handwashing, and drinking water.
Check the electrics – Make sure your switchboard meets AS/NZS 3012 standards.
Paperwork check – Insurance certificates, white cards, high-risk licences, maintenance records are all in order.
Asbestos clearance (if needed) – Non-negotiable if there’s been demolition.

During the Build

Safety isn’t “set and forget” it’s about checking in regularly:

Site inductions – Make sure every contractor knows the hazards and is logged on record.
Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) – Required for high-risk construction work. If something changes, update before work continues.
Regular site reviews – Keep an eye on hazards like scaffolds, ladders, hot works, or electrical gear.
Toolbox talks – Share updates on incidents, risks, and fixes. Short chats, big impact.
Incident reporting – Near misses, injuries, or illnesses? Get them in the register and investigate. Some might need to notify the regulator.

Why This Matters

At the end of the day, good safety practices don’t just tick a compliance box, they keep your crew safe, reduce downtime, and save you headaches when auditors or regulators come knocking.

The best part? With HazardCo, you can ditch the endless paperwork and manage everything in one easy system.

Ready to Make Safety Simple?

Health and safety doesn’t need to be complicated. With the right systems in place, you can focus on building, while knowing your site is covered.

Download your free Builder checklist, or Trade checklist.

Get in touch with us

Want an easier way to stay on top of it all? Get in touch with us or start a free trial.

The below information is applicable to those in Western Australia.

From 10 August 2025, operating earthmoving machinery (like excavators) as a crane to suspend loads over 3 tonnes will require a High Risk Work Licence (HRWL) under WHS regulations.

Key Licensing Requirements

Operators must be competent and trained.
Required licences:
- CN HRWL for non-slewing mobile cranes
- C2 HRWL for slewing mobile cranes
Exemption from C2 HRWL applies if the operator:
- Holds a Dogging (DG) HRWL,
- Completes SLELIC301 training Conduct Safe Lifting with Excavators, and
- Provides a valid Statement of Attainment

When Can Earthmoving Machinery Be Used to Lift Loads?

Only if:

It’s designed and approved for lifting
Manufacturer’s limits are followed
Equipment is properly maintained and inspected
Lifting attachments are safe and suitable

A thorough risk assessment must be done to decide if this method is the safest option. If not, alternative lifting equipment should be used.

Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) Requirements

A SWMS is mandatory and must:

Identify hazards and risks (e.g. load weight, lifting gear, ground conditions, travel path)
Describe control measures and how they’ll be applied
Be accessible and clear to all involved

WorkSafe Enforcement

WorkSafe will focus on education until 10 December 2025. For example, information and verbal directions may be given instead of compliance notices. After that, safety breaches may lead to enforcement.

Over the next 5 years Australia’s multi-dwelling construction industry is expected to grow due to urbanisation and strong population growth. Despite having a downturn in recent years, the number of businesses in the industry has grown 1.9% per year, reaching 27,700 in 2024.

What is Multi-Dwelling Housing?
In Australia, “multi-dwelling housing” refers to residential developments with three or more dwellings on a single lot, each with ground-level access, and excludes apartment buildings.

What’s the difference?
The key difference between single and multi-dwelling housing is the level of complexity required to manage the build and the likelihood of additional layers of responsibility e.g. directors and development owners above the principal contractor.

There are often complex stages of these builds, which are generally run by specialised subbies e.g. planning (engineers, architects, quantity surveyors), and build stages (civil works, construction management, carpentry/joiners, concreting) etc. In addition, there are often more intricate designs, additional fire safety regulation and stricter compliance standards.

Multiple dwellings also mean more trades are on-site working in close proximity to each other, and on top of that sites are located in more established areas where there is more interaction with existing residents and the general public.

Multi-dwelling Project Requirements
Because multi-dwelling housing creates more risk on-site due to the increased amount of subbies, machinery, equipment, and high-risk work taking place, It’s important that you have the right H&S tools in place for your contractors and a safe system of work e.g. Site Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) for all multi-dwelling projects.

A SSSP for a multi-dwelling build will outline how all involved parties will manage health and safety on-site. This includes details between parties on how they will manage workers, their expectations, roles, and responsibilities to ensure that all relevant site safety information is available.

Due to the potential complexity of multi-dwelling builds, we always recommend a more detailed and customised SSSP to manage risks effectively and reduce overall risk to the business and the workers.

The extra complexities that can need extra planning and control include:

Pre-planning of the project, because there are many moving parts, schedules and sensitive timelines.
Detailing key parties, subbies, and their contact details.
Multiple responsibilities, e.g. principal contractors, multiple teams of trades.
When more trades are working at the same time, it’s important to take a more thorough approach to coordination and managing hazards.
The SSSP allows for the detailing of the hazards and risks that are likely to be faced, and what controls are to be used to reduce or eliminate those.
Plans for emergencies and the site’s response throughout the build.
Any specific requirements e.g. some state have additional safety requirements for multi-dwelling builds
More complex site boundaries e.g. large areas, houses that are sold whilst construction continues in other parts, site boundaries in close proximity to pedestrians etc.
Traffic management needs, e.g. more trade parking, higher traffic flow of machinery or materials, cranes and concrete pump trucks, council requirements etc.
This list is not exhaustive but all of these complexities are often above and beyond a single dwelling build and need planning, controlling, and communicating to ensure the health and safety of workers and others are managed well.

Got a new multi-dwelling build kicking off?
Project Pro and the HazardCo system are suitable and capable of meeting the H&S requirements of multi-dwelling builds, so you can feel confident that HazardCo can support you as your business grows.

If you are a builder starting to diversify, now’s the right time to review your Health and Safety activity.

That’s where HazardCo comes in. If you’re building 3 or more dwellings within a fenced-off section, you will need HazardCo’s Project Pro. This is a customised project, specifically for your build that gives you everything you need for your team and all the subcontractors you will have coming onto the site.

Here are some key components of Project Pro that will help you cover all your bases.

2 x Hazard Board with QR code
Customised SSSP for the project (in consultation with a H&S Advisor)
On-site Traffic Management Plan
Large HazardCo mesh fence banner
Full access to the HazardCo system to guide anyone scanning onto site
In app guided activity to support learning
Cloud storage of all safety documentation completed on site
Reporting and analytics to identify opportunities and trends on site
Support from our Customer support and Advisory teams

If you have a new multi-dwelling residential project kicking off, give us a call on 1800 954 702 or email info@hazardco.com to discuss your requirements and what you need to be thinking about from a H&S perspective and the added complexities that come with it.

Good health and safety processes and systems lay the foundation for success with any project but are even more important with bigger builds and multi-dwelling residential projects.

This blog will dive into managing health and safety in complex construction projects and look at how to set up effective systems to lay a solid foundation for your next big project.

Why focus on health and safety in multi-dwelling projects?

At HazardCo, we keep a close eye on industry trends to make sure our content and tools are relevant and useful. Over the last 12 months, there has been a significant increase in council consents for multi-dwelling residential projects. There are now more consents issued for multi-dwelling projects than stand-alone builds.

Multi-dwelling projects are bigger, more complex, and have more layers of shared duties, creating a need for a solid health and safety plan from the very start of the build. We also consistently see that businesses that set up good processes and systems within their business and who have a strong safety culture, do better than their competitors who don’t invest in these areas.

Download our Multi-dwelling Residential Checklist to make sure you’re ticking all the boxes when it comes to keeping your crew and your business safe.

Common myths in multi-dwelling construction

In talking to our customers, we’ve encountered several myths about multi-dwelling projects:

Responsibility myths: Builders and trades often think they are only responsible for their own health and safety, while developers or principal contractors believe they are not responsible for overall site safety.
Risk assessment myths: Some believe there is no additional risk in multi-dwelling builds compared to standalone projects.
Cookie Cutter Model: Many assume that using the same safety plans and procedures across different projects is sufficient. However, each site and build is unique, with its own set of challenges and risks.

Overlapping duties and responsibilities

In multi-dwelling projects, shared duties are unavoidable. All businesses involved must consult, cooperate, and coordinate with each other. Good communication and sharing information is critical to managing these overlapping responsibilities and creating a safe site.

To incorporate consultation, coordination, and cooperation into your construction business, start by planning each stage of the work and think about how it affects your contractors, other businesses and the public. In this process, you need to identify the risks that need to be managed and talk to who is impacted about how to handle them. With your contractors, decide who’s best to manage each risk and make sure everyone knows their roles, responsibilities, and what’s expected of them.

Unique challenges of multi-dwelling projects

Compared to standalone residential projects, multi-dwelling builds involve more contractors, equipment and activities on a smaller site, which increases risks. Key considerations include:

Contractor management: Managing multiple trades on site at one time.
Height and equipment: Multi-dwelling projects often involve taller structures and more heavy machinery e.g. cranes.
Traffic and pedestrian management: Managing the increased traffic of vehicles and pedestrians around the site.
Materials: Managing increased delivery and storage of materials on site
Utilities: Dealing with both overhead and underground utilities.
Environmental impact: Planning for construction waste and protecting the environment.
Emergency planning: Comprehensive plans for various emergencies, beyond just fires and earthquakes.

Contractor management

Contractor management and the logistics of contractors on site is a major challenge on multi-dwelling projects. Successful contractor management starts before they even enter on to a site, and involves checking contractors have the right qualifications, health and safety processes, and a good track record. Pre-planning and continuous monitoring of your contractors, when they are on site, is essential to prevent injuries and ensure smooth project execution.

If you would like to know more about contractor management, check out our Simple Guide To Contractor Management.

High-risk work areas

Key high-risk areas in multi-dwelling projects create another unique challenge for these projects and can include the following:

Working at heights: As most dwellings are two or more stories. Proper planning and safety measures for working at elevated levels, including the use of scaffolding, cranes.
Machinery and vehicles: Safe operation and coordination of heavy equipment.
Utilities: Avoiding incidents with power lines and underground utilities.
Excavations: Proper planning of excavations and management of works and machinery.

Successful health and safety management sets your project up for success

Businesses that have good processes and systems in place do better across the board and they are more likely to complete projects on time and on budget. This creates happy clients and a better reputation in the industry.

Successful multi-dwelling projects often include:

Early health and safety planning: Integrating safety into the planning stages to create a safer work environment.
Continuous monitoring and reviewing: Regular checks and updates to safety processes throughout the project.
Clear communication and coordination: Ensuring all contractors are informed and aligned on health and safety practices.

The shift towards multi-dwelling residential projects brings new health and safety challenges. By debunking myths, understanding shared duties, managing contractors effectively, and focusing on high-risk areas, you can make your sites safer! Remember, health and safety planning is not just a regulatory requirement but a vital part of protecting the crew on site.

Download our Multi-dwelling Residential Checklist to make sure you’re ticking all the boxes when it comes to keeping your crew and your business safe.

If you have a new project in the pipeline, let’s work together to keep your sites safe and successful. We have specifically designed Project Pro to meet the complex needs of multi-dwelling residential builds which includes extra support from our advisory team. Get in touch today!

Adverse weather has the potential to hit hard, with strong winds, extreme temperatures, and rain. All of these factors can cause hazards for you and your workers. From trips and slips to numb fingers, heat stroke and damaged gear and equipment, varied temperatures call for specific measures to ensure that your workplace is safe.

Work doesn’t always stop when adverse weather rolls in, so it’s important to know what to do to keep your workers safe. However, if conditions become unsuitable or too dangerous, work should be paused until it is safe to continue.

Adverse Weather Checks and Inspections

When adverse weather starts rolling through, it’s important for you to inspect your workplace. If you are somewhere that experiences heavy rain, make sure that you identify and address, where possible, all wet and muddy surfaces, platforms, and walkways that are used. If strong winds are forecast, check that all materials have been stacked and secured to prevent anything from falling or blowing away. It’s crucial to stress the importance of fall protection when wet and windy conditions are present. To ensure your site is safe, complete a Site Review using your HazardCo App. If you are closing the site during adverse weather events you can use our handy Site Security Checklist to make sure the site is left in a safe condition.

Adverse Weather Driving Accidents

Vehicle accidents don’t just happen on the roads; they can also happen within the work site. Highlight to your team that driving rules for the road also apply to your workplace, and it’s important that they take care while operating work vehicles and equipment. To make sure your vehicles and plant are safe before use, complete either a Vehicle Checklist or Pre-Start using your HazardCo App. Avoid driving if conditions are too hazardous to ensure safety.

Watch the Weather

The last thing you need is for the weather to catch you by surprise. Keep an eye on the weather forecast so your workers can prioritise the work that will be affected should the weather take a turn for the worse, and ensure they have the right gear to do the job safely.

The Right PPE Makes a Difference

Be vigilant when ensuring that workers are wearing proper PPE and suitable clothing when adverse weather conditions are present.

Safety helmets and hard hats should be worn where applicable, to protect workers in the case of a fall, as well as from falling objects. Using liners under headgear is a great way to stay warm and keep body heat from escaping. Use chin straps to avoid safety headgear falling off in windy conditions.
Safety glasses and goggles can be treated with anti-fog spray to prevent vision from becoming obstructed.
Gloves need to be carefully selected to ensure that workers still have a good range of movement when working with tools and equipment.
Waterproof boots with non-slip soles should be worn along with two layers of socks to keep moisture away from the skin.

Follow these tips to optimise your crew’s safety so you can enjoy a productive season while keeping your team safe.

If you have any questions you can contact our Advisory Team on 1800 954 702.

Each year, an increasing number of builders are adopting construction software to streamline operations both on-site and in the office. Companies that have well-established systems and processes, especially digital ones, are able to build strong, resilient businesses ready for any challenge. If you’re still buried in paperwork and bogged down by time-consuming tasks, it’s time to explore the latest in construction software. Go digital and set your business up for success in 2025.

Here are some of the top tools to help you level up:

Buildxact

Construction management and estimating software

Buildxact is job estimating and job management software designed specifically for residential builders, renovators and trades. It’s the market-leading option for Aussie builders who want to run their construction project from takeoff to the final invoice, all-in-one place.

Buildxact continues to evolve and bring out new tools. It now integrates directly with your favourite suppliers to get the latest prices, which makes the quoting process quicker and more accurate. And a new mobile tool connects you with your on-site crew, to make sure you never miss a beat from the job site again.

Take advantage of estimating software uniquely designed for residential builders and trades.

Learn more about Buildxact.

HazardCo

A simple health and safety system

HazardCo is a health and safety system that makes WHS simple, giving you the confidence you’re keeping your crew and business safe while cutting the time you spend on paperwork.

HazardCo’s aim has always been to give their members the systems and advice they need to make their job safer and easier to do. Their digital tools do exactly that. It’s what you need, when you need it… all from your back pocket!

Guided SWMS
Incident reporting and more
Site specific safety plan generator
Hazard boards with QR codes
Automated contractor management
Free app for easy crew inductions
24/7 incident support
Phone advice

Find out more about HazardCo.

Landchecker

Property Information

Looking for an efficient way to search for potential sites and check feasibility? Conducting due diligence and reconnaissance from your laptop is really easy with Landchecker’s on-map functionality.

Quickly and easily searches properties to identify key insights, such as; heritage overlays, flood zones, bushfire-prone areas property boundaries, site dimensions, zoning maps, planning permit applications, topography, precinct structure plans, last sold price and more.

Access property titles and plans at competitive prices with one click purchase.

All paid plans now come with High-Resolution Aerial Imagery so you can analyse geospatial data for a “full-picture” view that reveals how potential development site locations/suburbs are

changing over time.

Learn more about Landchecker.

ProCalc

Client budget validator

ProCalc saves builders’ time by identifying unviable quotes before you invest time in creating them.

Backed by data from thousands of residential Australian projects, ProCalc enables builders to:

Accurately ballpark construction costs in seconds from their desktop.
Remove tyre kickers and time-wasters in the sales pipeline.
Adjust estimates in seconds to meet client budgets without compromising profit margins.

Builders use ProCalc to:

Save 5–20 weeks annually: Focus on qualified prospects earlier in the process.
Eliminate Under-Quoting: Validate detailed estimates with localized, industry-specific pricing to avoid costly mistakes.
Strengthen Architect and Designer Relationships: Deliver reliable feasibility estimates, fostering trust and collaboration – in seconds.

Built by Builders, for Builders, ProCalc fills the gap in qualifying which prospects can afford your services—helping you prioritise your time more effectively.

Start your free ProCalc trial today!

Experience how ProCalc can streamline your estimating process and help you close more profitable jobs.

Gtee

Digital Warranty and Maintenance

Gtee offers a digital solution for managing all the warranty and maintenance information for your clients. You no longer need to collate this information, simply select the products you have used from Gtee’s product database.

It saves admin time, is cost-effective at $290 per build, and provides clients with 24/7 access to their digital accounts. It will also send automated maintenance reminders.

Gtee ensures legal compliance with warranty and maintenance requirements and allows builders to provide evidence of notifications for any warranty claims. The accounts are guaranteed to be active for at least 15 years.

Learn more about Gtee.

Watch a short demo video.

Dext

Pre-accounting software

Dext provides automated accounting solutions for the construction industry, simplifying bookkeeping for more accurate, efficient and productive financial reporting and performance. Rather than expecting employees to spend hours manually entering expenses data into spreadsheets, professionals can use Dext Prepare to capture documents quickly and accurately. This not only makes records more accurate and consistent but it also frees up time for teams to focus on other valuable tasks.

This solution enables business owners to snap paper receipts and financial documents with one click using the mobile app, forwarding paperwork via email or uploading it directly into the software. Dext does the hard work of capturing, extracting and categorising the relevant data, so it’s ready to be published into their accounting software of choice. This makes it easier for builders, plumbers, electricians and any industry workers to ensure their accounts are organised, keep track of expenses, accurately quote projects and make informed decisions to boost revenue and productivity.

With Dext Prepare, construction business owners can enjoy:

Paperwork extraction with 99% accuracy;
Smooth accounting processes;
Records kept in a standardised, digital format;
More time to focus on value-adding work.

Find out why businesses owners of all industries choose Dext Prepare.

Xero

Accounting software

Xero is online accounting software for your building company which makes it super easy to automate your admin. Plus, you can work from anywhere, even your ute!

When it comes to construction accounting, if you don’t do it regularly it’s easy to fall behind and things can quickly get out of control. By building accounting into your regular workflows you’re always on top of it. Xero is cloud-based and simple to use. Whether you are on-site or in the office you can access Xero on your smartphone or tablet so you’ll never get behind.

Xero connects to your bank, bookkeeper, accountant and other financial apps you might use such as Dext.

Find out more about Xero.

Thank you to everyone who entered our ‘Win a $4k Holiday’ competition during October. Keep an eye out in your inbox for our health and safety updates.

Congratulations to the winner: