The HazardCo App has a new Plant/Machinery Pre-Start tool! It’s a quick and easy way to do pre-start checks on various plant and machinery such as scissor lists, boom lifts and excavators. Just whip out your app, follow the guided prompts and you’ll know all your reports are saved for safe keeping.
This is a great new tool for those of you currently filling in the log book that stays with the machine, causing lots of painful admin work to gather and compile the information for your own records.
Why conduct pre-start checks?
Pre-start checks are a simple way to check your plant and machinery is up to scratch before it’s used. Whether it’s hired or owned equipment, a quick check will help you to find any potential issues that could impact on the safety of your team or the performance of the machinery. By referring to the manufacturer’s instructions and best practices, workers can make sure the machinery they have is in a safe condition to be used, and if not, the App gives you an easy way to communicate the issues happening on the ground to the right people. When done well pre-start checks go a long way to preventing incidents and equipment failures.
When to use the Plant/MachineryPre-Start tool
The Plant/Machinery Pre-Start tool should be used before the operation of any plant or machinery. You can find it in the main menu of the HazardCo App. Once a pre-start check is completed, the report is automatically saved to the Reports section in the Hub and the App for easy access in the future.
Bennefits for workers: The Plant/Machinery Pre-Start tool provides an easy way to follow pre-start procedures. It helps you to communicate any issues that need to go up the chain and make sure information isn’t lost or misunderstood.
Benefits for workers: This tool is a quicker and easier way to maintain evidence of your crews safe work practises on site. Anyone on site can use the app to complete a Plant/Machinerypre-start, you’ll be able to see it’s been done, and you won’t need to find and scan physical log books anymore!
Read step by step instructions
In light of the recent changes to Australia’s industrial manslaughter laws, we sat down with Glenn, one of our HazardCo Health and Safety (H&S) experts to break down what these laws mean for building companies and tradies.
Q: Glenn, what exactly is industrial manslaughter?
Glenn: Industrial manslaughter is a big deal because it means that if a business owner or someone in charge of a worksite doesn’t take safety seriously, and it leads to a worker’s death, they could be held legally responsible. It’s about accountability. If you knew—or should’ve known—that what you were doing (or not doing) could seriously harm someone, and it ends up causing a death, then we’re talking about industrial manslaughter.
Q: So what’s new with these laws? How are they different from before?
Glenn: The big change here is that industrial manslaughter is now a criminal charge—meaning individuals can face serious charges, and potentially be convicted and face prison time if found guilty. It’s a clear message that safety is non-negotiable. With South Australia and NSW putting in place industrial manslaughter laws this year, and Tasmania pending, they will soon be nationwide.
Q: Who does this law apply to? Is it just for business owners?
Glenn: While business owners are definitely in the spotlight, this law can apply to anyone who has a duty of care on a worksite. So if you’re in a position where you’re responsible for other people’s safety, and your negligence causes a fatality, you could be held accountable. It’s not just about the big bosses; anyone with responsibility for safety needs to be on their game.
Q: Can you give us some examples, Glenn, of how this duty of care might play out on a construction site?
Glenn: Absolutely. In construction, there are plenty of scenarios where this duty of care comes into play. For example, if a site supervisor gives wrong information, tools, or instructions, and a worker is killed, that site supervisor could be facing a charge of industrial manslaughter. It’s the same for contractors—say one builds faulty foundations, and someone ends up getting hurt or worse, that contractor could also be held responsible. And it doesn’t stop there; the PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) might also be on the hook if they didn’t have solid processes in place to ensure the build was up to standard.
Q: What constitutes industrial manslaughter, Glenn? What are the criteria for being charged?
Glenn: To be charged with industrial manslaughter, a few key things need to line up.
First, you have to be a PCBU or an officer of the PCBU.
Second, you must have engaged the individual to work on your site.
Third, you need to be aware of the safety risks they were exposed to.
Fourth, you didn’t do anything about those known risks—whether it’s changing, communicating, or documenting them.
And finally, a fatality has to occur as a result of those risks that you were aware of and failed to address. The main thing that really seals the deal here is what’s called “gross negligence.” Legally, it means that if you have a duty of care, know about a risk, and don’t take action, it becomes much easier to prove negligence. It’s not just about being aware of the risk; it’s about failing to act on it.
Q: This all sounds pretty serious, Glenn. Should businesses be worried?
Glenn: It’s serious, but there’s no need to panic if you’re doing the right thing. The key takeaway is that these laws are here to protect workers. If you’re following safety protocols, keeping your worksite safe, and not cutting corners, then you’re on the right track. The law is only a threat to those who ignore their responsibilities. It’s about doing what’s right, not just for the law, but for the safety of everyone on site.
Q: What steps can businesses take to avoid being charged with industrial manslaughter?
Glenn: There are five simple steps that can really help you stay on the right side of the law—and more importantly, keep everyone safe.
- Make sure you have a Site Specific Safety Plan for each of your sites, and capture all known risks in that plan.
- Ensure that everyone working on the site is properly inducted and that you have copies of their white cards.
- Collect signed, site-specific Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) for each High-Risk Construction Work activity.
- Regularly conduct hazard and site reviews to catch risks before they cause harm.
- Hold regular toolbox meetings to talk with your workers about safety. By doing these things, you’re not just ticking boxes; you’re actively working to prevent fatalities and staying clear of those heavy-duty charges.
If you have any questions get in touch with the HazardCo team today
Maintaining clean amenities is just as important as keeping your site nice and tidy. Employers have a duty to provide adequate workplace amenities/facilities, including toilets, that are in good working order, clean, safe and accessible.
Not meeting these requirements can lead to a risk of infection, disease, psychosocial harm or infringements/enforcement from the Regulator. Regulators often actively check work sites to ensure workers have access to clean and safe amenities.
When planning amenities on your site, consult with your workers to understand what will be needed. Getting them involved will give you the opportunity to provide information, training and instruction on things like keeping the site amenities clean and reporting any problems.
Portable Toilets
More often than not portable toilets are not maintained in a safe or hygienic way. Employers must make sure that toilets are cleaned and serviced regularly, and, just like plant and other on-site equipment, safe to use and operated the way it was designed to be used.
Toilets should also:
- Be fitted with a hinged seat and lid
- Be provided with a door that can be locked from the inside
- Have enough water for flushing and washing hands
- Stocked with toilet paper, rubbish bins and hygienic means to dispose of sanitary items
- Supplied with soap or a suitable alternative such as alcohol based sanitiser
Don’t forget, the toilet should be easy to access in all weather conditions and be placed on stable, flat ground to ensure it can operate properly.
Drinking water
Clean drinking water must be supplied to workers by installing site water taps as early as possible. If the mains have not been connected, provide workers with drinking water in containers, coolers or flasks.
Meal and shelter facilities
Workers should have a clean and weatherproof area for meals and rest breaks. Using the garage or a similar sheltered area can be used and be set up as soon as possible. If they aren’t available on-site, workers should be given enough time on their breaks to access eating facilities off-site. Facilities should also include:
- Adequate seating
- Hygienic surfaces for meals
- Rubbish bins and arrangements for regularly disposing rubbish and waste materials
In the early stages of construction a worker can use their vehicle for shelter until a suitable area becomes available.
As always, if you have any questions please give our team a call on 1800 954 702 or contact us.
It’s important for young people starting out in construction to understand how to stay safe at work. Young workers lack experience and might not know about all the hazards yet, which could put them in danger of getting hurt. Sometimes young people might feel like they have to impress others, or they might think they’re better at the job than they actually are, they may also forget about safety rules or be afraid to speak up if something seems unsafe. Because of this young workers have additional needs and should be supervised when working on-site.
Positive safety culture onsite comes from the top down, supervisors should be actively modeling and training young workers about safety rules, make sure they have the right gear, and encourage them to speak up if they see any problems.
There are some jobs that young workers shouldn’t do because they might not have enough experience or strength yet. Supervisors need to make sure young workers can handle their tasks and keep an eye on them until they are sure they are able to do the work safely. Young workers also need to think about their own safety, listen to instructions and follow safety rules.
When everyone works together to stay safe, it helps make sure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.
Now, let’s delve deeper into some specific measures that can be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of young workers in the construction industry:
- Comprehensive training: Employers should provide thorough training. This training should cover specific job duties and safety procedures, hazard identification and emergency protocols. By giving young workers the necessary knowledge and skills, employers can empower them to work safely and confidently. Basic health and safety should be incorporated into their training from the start, and ongoing support should be provided to address any gaps in understanding. Regular check-ins to gauge their comprehension and comfort with procedures and equipment are essential.
- Clear communication: Good communication is key to creating a safe work environment. Employers should clearly communicate safety expectations and procedures to young workers, making sure that they understand their responsibilities and know how to respond in different situations. Young people often have fresh perspectives and questions that can lead to improvements. Encouraging them to voice their ideas can contribute significantly to a safer workplace for everyone.
- Supervision and mentorship: Experienced workers can play a vital role in guiding and mentoring on construction sites. Assigning a mentor or supervisor to oversee the work of young workers can help prevent incidents and ensure that tasks are completed safely and correctly. This also provides young workers with an opportunity to learn from experienced builders and develop their skills over time.
- Lead by example. Supervisors play a critical role in ensuring workplace safety. They should actively monitor work practices, correct unsafe behaviors, and be available to answer questions. Providing ongoing support and guidance to supervisors, especially if they are also young workers, is essential for maintaining a positive safety culture.
- Regular safety inspections: Regular inspections of the work site should be conducted to identify and address any safety hazards or potential risks. Employers should involve young workers in these inspections, encouraging them to participate in hazard identification and risk assessment. By regularly assessing and addressing safety concerns, employers can create a safer work environment for all employees.
- Ongoing education and support: Safety education should be an ongoing process for young workers in the construction industry. Employers should provide regular opportunities for training and development, keeping young workers informed about new safety regulations, procedures, and best practices. Additionally, employers should offer support and guidance to young workers as they navigate their roles and responsibilities in the workplace.
- Create a positive culture: Creating a positive safety environment involves more than just having policies in place. Supervisors should consistently reinforce safety practices and lead by example by wearing personal protective equipment. Implementing a buddy system can also provide additional support to young workers, allowing them to learn from experienced colleagues while fostering a sense of teamwork and collaboration.
Employing young workers in the construction industry has benefits for the young person, the company and for the industry as a whole as the next generation of builders learn and grow into future roles. By prioritising safety and investing in the well-being of young workers, employers can create a culture of safety that benefits everyone involved. Together, we can build a safer and more secure future for the next generation of construction workers.
If you have any questions, get in touch with the HazardCo team today
When you are renovating, you will most likely be working with others, such as the client or other contractors on-site. This means that you will need to think about how you will manage health and safety on-site and how you will communicate this with other people involved with the project. This will ensure that everyone is on top of the site hazards and practicing good health and safety during your renovation.
Here are a few things you will need to think about for your upcoming renovations:
Inductions are a way of ensuring workers and clients are aware of the risks and hazards that are involved in the job at hand, conducted at the start of each new job.
It is important that you induct your clients prior to starting the job, advising them about the health and safety guidelines that need to be followed for your work area, even when it’s their home.
If your work site is occupied by a client, or the client is likely to visit, then we recommend that you carry out the following:
Firstly, check the following three COVID-19 related questions with your client:
- Do you or anyone in the home have any symptoms associated with COVID-19 or are awaiting the results from a COVID-19 test?
- Have you or anyone in the home been in contact with any known or suspected cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
- Have you or anyone in the home returned from overseas in the past 14 days or been in contact with anyone that has?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then the work should not commence.
Next, meet the client at the worksite (if possible) and explain the following:
- The main hazards that will be present during the work e.g. ladders, power tools, noise, materials, electricity
- The ‘no-go’ areas while work is being carried out. Putting up a barrier clearly defines the work area for the homeowner or client.
- Run through the worksite rules with the client
Some good rules to use are:
- Follow health and safety instructions from workers onsite
- Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and do not do anything to endanger yourself or others
- Keep away from vehicles, machinery and tools
- Do not touch electrical wiring or electrical devices
- Do not remove hole or trench covers and stay behind barriers if in place
- Do not climb on or stand under any height equipment
- Keep clear of stacked materials and storage areas
- Children should not enter the work area while work is in progress or touch any materials and equipment
These steps will help to identify the risks that you will be bringing into your clients home, because when health and safety is top of mind – your site is a safer place for everyone involved.
If you are working alone we suggest that you set up a procedure to regularly contact someone throughout the day to check-in that you are safe.
HazardCo was formed when a couple of tradies decided they’d seen enough of the damage caused by a “she’ll be right” approach on construction sites. They thought it was high time for a new attitude towards health and safety, so they created HazardCo to make on-site health and safety more straightforward. HazardCo encourages safer sites and at the same time saves builders and subbies both time and paperwork.
HazardCo has continued to innovate with improvements to its tools and features which focus on delivering what builders and subbies need most – to save time and get back on the tools as soon as possible, while making sites safer, and helping teams reduce unnecessary incidents.
HazardCo never wants to forget this core purpose, so has its own ambassador – Joe@HazardCo, a true blue tradie at heart. As someone on the tools, Joe is at the forefront of HazardCo’s minds when developing new product updates, templates and tools. Joe keeps HazardCo focused on the things that make a real difference to everyone working in the construction industry today.
HazardCo’s been around long enough to grow with the industry, and with Joe’s help, will continue to make on-site health and safety both simpler and more effective. As Joe would say, “It’s a win-win mate – you get to save time, save paperwork, and have confidence your health and safety is sorted, so why wouldn’t ya?!”
While the mountain of paperwork seems to keep building every year, modern technology and smart solutions now give you, the main builder on-site, the option to cut back on health and safety paperwork in a way that gives you a safer site and more control of what’s going on.
Using your smartphone, HazardCo puts health and safety in the palm of your hand. The HazardCo App enables members to complete a SWMS, site review, incident report, or record a toolbox meeting – these are all done in record time and are available straight away on the Hub. All online, in real-time, and all without touching a single piece of paper.
The free version of the HazardCo App means everyone can complete inductions and scan on/off-site, so there are no excuses from the team. And because everyone on site scans on/off-site on their phone, you can see who’s on-site and when, without having to be there yourself.
If everyone on-site is a hazardCo member it’s even better! Site inductions can be done on the App and your team members and subbies, do these on their own phone without having to tie up additional meeting time. All up, it means you have a complete record of everything – completed inductions, site reviews, incident reports, toolbox meeting minutes, on-site time for all crew members etc., all saved online and available 24-7.
A big bonus when you go paperless, is that all of your employees have a total view of on-site health and safety. Because you’re using the app every day to scan in/out of site, you’re all seeing health and safety details more often – a key part of creating a safer site.
The HazardCo App is designed specifically for builders and tradies just like you. The smart App and online Hub put site health and safety in the palm of your hand wherever, and whenever you need. For a safer site, more visibility of health and safety, and less paperwork, make sure your team is using HazardCo.
It’s the latest App feature you’ve been waiting for! HazardCo SWMS has now landed!
A simple and easy to repeat approach, where you can:
- Simply complete SWMS from any mobile device
- Complete them on-site, in real-time in the touch of a button
- Keep the team informed by emailing your SWMS to everyone involved
Manage subbies? You can even digitally collect SWMS from subcontractors without the fuss!
What is a SWMS?
SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is a document that sets out the order of work activities to be carried out on-site, the hazards arising from these and the measures to be put in place to control the risks.
How does it work?
The HazardCo App makes it simple for you to understand what you need to fill in. With an easy-to-use interface that gives you options to choose from.
- An identification of the work on-site
- Specific hazards relating to the work
- A description of the measures to be implemented to control the risks
- The order of work (method statement) showing the tasks that will be carried out in a step by step process.
All employees involved in the work should discuss the SWMS so they understand exactly what work is to be done, how it will be completed and the controls that will be used to keep everyone safe. It’s fundamental and should be done before any work gets underway.
Empowering workers to save lives – check out our short explainer video to see how simple we’ve made it!
Anything with wheels and an engine should be at the forefront of your mind on site.
From delivery trucks to excavators, if it moves, and it’s got some weight and power behind them, it’s going to cause some damage.
The key issues
- Keeping pedestrians and vehicles apart
- Separate the two wherever you can with careful planning at the design stage.
- Minimizing vehicle movements
- Provide car and van parking away from the work area. Also control entry and plan storage areas so that vehicles don’t need to cross the site.
- Turning and reversing vehicles
- A spotter wearing high-vis clothing should guide the driver who can’t see clearly behind their vehicle. Mirrors, reversing, warning alarms, sensors and cameras can also make all the difference.
- People on site
- When untrained workers drive vehicles without authority, you’re in trouble. Always manage the training and activities of drivers, including those visiting.
- Visibility
- The more the better. From on-site lighting to aids for drivers (mirrors, CCTV cameras and reversing alarms) to high-vis clothing for those on the ground.
Accidents are preventable when risk is managed. How do you manage risk? You get a plan – a good one.
Traffic management plans
A traffic management plan documents and helps explain how risks will be managed. This might include details of:
- Designated travel paths for vehicles including entry and exit points
- Pedestrian and traffic routes
- Designated delivery and loading/unloading areas
- Travel paths on routes remote from the workplace, including places to turn around, dump material, access ramps and side roads
- The responsibilities of people expected to interact with traffic onsite
Every site is different, but your plan should be monitored and reviewed regularly. It should also be adapted when there are changes to your work situation.
Sort your safety today, save lives tomorrow. It really is as simple as that.
Looking for something in particular?
The HazardCo App has a new Plant/Machinery Pre-Start tool! It’s a quick and easy way to do pre-start checks on various plant and machinery such as scissor lists, boom lifts and excavators. Jus...
In light of the recent changes to Australia’s industrial manslaughter laws, we sat down with Glenn, one of our HazardCo Health and Safety (H&S) experts to break down what these laws mean f...
Maintaining clean amenities is just as important as keeping your site nice and tidy. Employers have a duty to provide adequate workplace amenities/facilities, including toilets, that are in go...
It's important for young people starting out in construction to understand how to stay safe at work. Young workers lack experience and might not know about all the hazards yet, which could put...
When you are renovating, you will most likely be working with others, such as the client or other contractors on-site. This means that you will need to think about how you will manage health a...
HazardCo was formed when a couple of tradies decided they’d seen enough of the damage caused by a “she’ll be right” approach on construction sites. They thought it was high time for a new atti...
While the mountain of paperwork seems to keep building every year, modern technology and smart solutions now give you, the main builder on-site, the option to cut back on health and safety pap...
It’s the latest App feature you’ve been waiting for! HazardCo SWMS has now landed!
A simple and easy to repeat approach, where you can:
Simply complete SWMS from any mobi...
Anything with wheels and an engine should be at the forefront of your mind on site.
From delivery trucks to excavators, if it moves, and it’s got some weight and power behind them, it’s goi...
