WorkCover. Watching out for you.

BUILDING THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION – OHS

ISSUES

Presentation to School Principals

5 June 2009

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Outline

Role of WorkCover

Principal Contractor provisions

BER Specific Initiatives and Issues

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Role of WorkCover

WorkCover NSW manages the State's workplace safety, injury management, and workers compensation systems.

We work in partnership with the New South Wales community to achieve safe workplaces,

effective return to work and security for injured workers

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Assisting Compliance

Confirmation of Advice FormsInformation and awareness

Consultation with stakeholdersAdvisory and technical servicesTargeted Prevention programs

Economic IncentivesRegistration, notification, licensing and certification

Verifying compliance

Improvement Notices Incident investigation

Targeted Workplace inspectionsAudits

Sanctions

Penalty noticesAdministrative actions

Prohibition NoticesCriminal & other proceedings

Court orders

HOW WE DO ITHOW WE DO IT THE THE

IMPROVEMENT IMPROVEMENT PYRAMIDPYRAMID

WorkCover. Watching out for you.

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Principal Contractor

Responsible for the construction work at all times until completed.

Generally has control of worksite

General duties under OHS Act 2000

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Principal Contractor

Chapter 8 of OHS Regulation 2001

Clauses 210 & 226

Must be appointed over $250 000

or high risk work < $250 000

Demolition or asbestos removal work

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High Risk Work

Structural alterations requiring temporary support Working above 3.0 m* Excavation more than 1.5 m Demolition work without license Tunnels, explosives, over water Near roads and moving plant Around gas or electrical installations

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Principal Contractor duties

Prepare Site Specific Safety Management Plan >$250 000

Ensure sub-contractors provide Safe Work Method Statements and work in accordance with them.

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Principal Contractor duties

Ensure that OHS inductions are carried out and records kept

Ensure that a Hazardous Substances register is implemented and maintained.

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For High Risk Work

Principal Contractor appointed

Safe work method statements submitted by contractors and reviewed for adequacy by principal contractor

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Top 5 Risks

Falls from height

Being struck by falling objects

Electrical

Plant

Structural collapse

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WORK AT SCHOOLS – OUR EXPERIENCE

There will be complaints

Asbestos

Working at height

Traffic management

Site Security

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WORKCOVER RESPONSE

Communication and complaint handling protocols

Appointment of Business Relationship Officers (Lead Inspectors) for each region or principal contractor

Minimisation of “red-tape”

Eg Waiving of notice period for asbestos removal in case of unexpected finds

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Risk “Workshop”

Refer to document

Building the Education Revolution – Project OHSE Risks/Hazards

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Recently…

Unplanned contact with hidden electrical, gas or telecommunication services

Local emergency services not advised of changed site conditions (access points) because of construction activity

Children or other persons at risk of being hit by moving plant or other vehicles accessing or exiting the site

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More information

Robert Mayell

WorkCover NSW

Hurstville Office

Ph 9598 3334 or 0413 451432

Or 13 10 50

www.workcover.nsw.gov.au