At a ceremony held bedside at RBH, CEO Alan Sparks presented the 1st Year with an Exemplary Commendation and our injured apprentice was able to personally thank his fellow apprentice. “Safety on worksites must be foremost in everyone’s mind,” said Alan.  “A life-threatening accident can occur in an instance.  In this case, the speed of response and the application of sound first aid principles clearly saved our apprentice's life.” 

In his apprenticeship for only 13 weeks and on his first day on that particular building site, the apprentice's commendation recognised his outstanding and life-saving support to a fellow apprentice.  His cool-headed help under very difficult circumstances was inspirational. 

Doctors, medical staff and all acknowledge that this effort saved a life.

Over the past few months a number of injuries have been reported involving nail guns.  It is essential that apprentices adhere to the correct use of nail guns in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and induction training provided through your training provider and by your hosts.

If you are unfamiliar with a new nail gun it is essential that you receive appropriate training on the new equipment before using it.  

IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DRAW THIS TRAINING REQUIREMENT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE HOST EMPLOYER.

Workers who perform construction work are currently required to hold evidence that they have completed a general safety induction course (30215QLD).

From 1 January 2006, people performing repair work on fixed plant and ships or submarines are exempt from the requirement to have general induction evidence for that type of work. People undertaking additional construction activities (such as fit outs, renovations, repairs or refurbishments, asbestos removal and demolition) have 12 months to obtain a General Safety Induction (Construction Industry) card. 

On 1 January 2006, the height at which safety controls must be implemented for construction work (other than housing construction work) changed from 2.4 metres to 2 metres. The need for safety controls to be implemented at this height has also been extended to work that was not previously considered construction work. This means that construction work ( other than housing construction) involving the erection and repair of structures, including buildings and other fixed plant, will need to implement safety measures where there is a risk of a fall of 2 metres or more.

Laws to keep members of the public safe from falling objects have been extended to cover people both near and within construction site boundaries. The Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997 now requires principal contractors, employers and self employed people to close an adjoining area or erect a suitable gantry if loads are being lifted over any person in an adjoining area. This change came into affect 1 January 2006. 

From 1 March 2006, owners of leased domestic residences must have a safety switch installed for the power circuit of the residence within 6 months of a residential tenancy agreement being entered into, or by 29 February 2008 (whichever is the sooner).

Last year Workplace Health and Safety Queensland completed housekeeping audits in the construction industry. Around 574 building and construction sites were randomly assessed throughout Queensland in the civil, commercial and residential sectors. Inspectors identified 244 issues over two stages of the state wide campaign. Main issues that were identified were:

1. Access to the construction site

2. inadequate safety signs

3. electrical safety

4. inadequate measures to prevent falls from height

5. storage of materials and plant

The Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997 s174 lists safe housekeeping practices, some of which are ensuring there is:

1. Appropriate  safe and clear entry to and exit from the workplace
2. Safe system for collecting, storing and disposing of excess waste material
3. Enough area in which to safely store  materials or plant for the construction work.

The Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 applies to all workplaces, workplace activities and specified high-risk plant.  It applies to everyone who may affect the health and safety of others because of workplaces, workplace activities or specified high-risk plant; and everyone whose health and safety may be affected by workplaces, workplace activities or specified high-risk plant.  The objective of this Act is to prevent a person’s death, injury or illness being caused by a workplace, by workplace activities or by specified high-risk plant. 

                East Coast Apprenticeships has a specially defined role under the Act in relation to Host Employers and the placement of apprentices and trainees for the purposes of training.  The Act defines the ‘employer’ of an apprentice or trainee who is employed by a group training organisation, ‘… the employer is when the apprentice or trainee is engaged to do work for a host employer—the host employer….’    

The role of our Field Officers in the assessment and monitoring of the workplace is to be carefully managed.  Field Officers are not qualified Workplace Health and Safety Officers as defined by the Act and should never present themselves as such.  They do however carry a responsibility on behalf of East Coast Apprenticeships in promoting the safe working environment of their apprentices.  This ‘duty of care’ is central to the Act.  The actions of a Field Officer do in no way negate the obligations and responsibilities of the Host Employer as define in the Act as ‘the employer of the apprentice’ during placement.

East Coast Apprenticeships promotes safety and seeks your input to our continuous improvement philosophy for safety.  Help us to help you.  If you have any ideas how we can improve safety, please call our WHSO on 3881 3166.

East Coast Apprenticeships has introduced new tough procedures to improve safety. Breaches of safety can now lead to Training Contract cancellation for apprentices and trainees and termination for staff.  “It is time that we reinstated personal responsibility for our own safety.” said CEO Alan Sparks. “As a company, we vigorously promote safety and yet individuals continue to ignore standard safety practices like wearing safety equipment, and when there is an accident these same people look around for someone else to blame.”

The new procedure includes a scale of actions including cautions, counselling, retraining, formal warnings and cancellation or termination.

“Safety is first and foremost our own individual responsibility. No amount of supervision and training will counter individuals’ who fail to comply with safe practices.”  Apprentices who forget their Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) may be refused entry to sites and workplaces until they have this equipment. PPE is provided to prevent eye injuries, head injuries, hearing loss and foot injuries. It must be provided by employers just as it must be worn by employees!

If you have ideas how East Coast can further promote safety please call our WHSO, Michael Dagan on 3881 3166. Help us to help you work safe.