Staying Safe At Work — Why Construction Site Safety Is Important

Despite the strong legislation that makes Australian construction sites among the safest in the world, the number of serious injuries, deaths and compensation claims is still a source of concern for all workers and businesses in the construction industry. At Civil Movement, workplace health and safety is something we take very seriously, not only because construction sites are inherently dangerous places due to the nature of the work and the heavy equipment and machinery used, but also because livelihoods and lives are at stake.

Most serious injuries on work and construction sites involve falls from heights, but there are a number of other work activities that involve heavy equipment and machinery which fall under the category of ‘high-risk construction work’, as defined by Safe Work Australia. With regard to the use of earthmoving and plant equipment, this includes:

The demolition of a load-bearing element of a structure or an element that relates to the structure’s integrity
Heavy work that is carried out in a confined or indoor space
Any earthwork carried out near pressurised gas mains or piping
Work carried out near energised electrical installations or services

Additionally, any work that involves demolition, clearing, excavating and removing construction or demolition waste and is carried out near a road, footpath or area used by traffic or pedestrians is considered high-risk construction work. That makes site safety an issue that no one can afford to overlook.

Stay Safe and Legal

The workplace health and safety laws that are put in place to protect individuals and businesses in the construction industry are there for the good of us all, which is why compliance is so important. All workers, from general labourers and tradespeople to excavator operators and site supervisors, must hold a current White Card that proves they have received training and are able to work legally on a construction or heavy work site.

Additionally, all plant machinery operators must hold the required tickets for the heavy equipment and machinery they use, with some types of construction work requiring further training, such as crane operators and individuals undertaking high-rise scaffolding work. Undertaking training is essential, as it helps both workers and employers to make the right decisions during the planning stages and on-site to maximise safety and minimise risk.

For your assurances, all Civil Movement team members hold up-to-date White Cards and the required licenses for the earthmoving and plant machinery we operate. Workplace health and safety is our highest priority when undertaking projects of any size, from minor excavating work for storm drains to large-scale land clearing projects involving multiple items of machinery.

At Civil Movement, we welcome all enquiries about our plant hire and civil contracting services that cater for customers in Newcastle, Port Stephens, Hornsby, Scone the Central Coast and surrounding areas, and we’re happy to discuss the workplace health and safety measures that would be put in place in relation to your project if you wish. To speak with a team member about your project, call 02 4317 2848.