  Tuesday, 24 Aug 2010Update on CFMEU ban on lifting of panels on slabs with concrete strength less than 15mpa
WorkSafe has undertaken work with engineers and formwork companies to develop guidance material to clarify the expectations in relation to the lifting of precast panels on ‘early age’ concrete slabs.
The issue relates to the lifting of panels on ‘green’ or low strength concrete slabs. WorkSafe have released the draft guidance to Master Builders, The Victorian Construction Safety Alliance and the CFMEU for comment. |
Tuesday, 17 Aug 2010CFMEU ban on lifting of Concrete Panels with concrete strength less than 15mpa
In a kneejerk reaction, the CFMEU have put in place a ban on the lifting of tilt-up panels with concrete strengths of less than 15mpa.
As per the CFMEU alert, the issue revolves around the structural integrity of the concrete in precast panels and the strength of the welded-in ferrules. Master Builders is not questioning whether the safety issue is genuine, but more the failure of the CFMEU to properly consult. |
Thursday, 8 Jul 2010WorkSafe directly targets business owners in “Back to Basics” campaign
WorkSafe has taken their targeted campaign on the quality of supervision on construction sites to an unanticipated level by going directly to the bosses of a number of medium-sized commercial and domestic builders.
The skills and competencies of site supervisors was intended to be the area of focus in the third phase of WorkSafe’s “Back to Basics” campaign and WorkSafe Inspectors have engaged in the practice of issuing Improvement Notices to builders requiring them to ensure that their supervisors undertake training to improve their OHS management skills. |
Tuesday, 22 Jun 2010Worker Dies after Construction Site Fall
A construction worker who was seriously injured after a fall at a domestic construction site has died in hospital a few days later after being taken off life support.
It is believed that the man was balancing on a single plank of wood, loosely attached to homemade scaffolding, when he fell three metres to the ground. The incident happened on Thursday, 3 June 2010 at a site in Northcote. |
Thursday, 17 Jun 2010Alert – High Wind Risk
The weather bureau has predicted strong winds, gusting up to 110km/h in the metropolitan region and in some regional areas, for today.
Members are urged to ensure that scaffolds are secure and that all building materials are appropriately stored so that they will not be caught by the high winds. Unfinished roofs should be secured as well as anything that could be caught by the winds (for example, waffle pods and plaster sheeting). |
Monday, 17 May 2010National Falls Code for Housing declared
On 29 April 2010, despite repeated protests from Master Builders and the HIA, Safe Work Australia declared the “National Code of Practice for the prevention of falls in housing construction”. |
| Thursday, 22 Apr 2010WorkSafe media campaign focused on Trades Safety - WorkSafe have engaged TV celebrity handy man Scott Cam for a series of TV and Radio advertisements to hone in on some key safety messages for tradesmen working in construction. |
Thursday, 18 Feb 2010Focus on Supervision in Next Stage of “Back to Basics Campaign” -
On Monday 15 February, 2010 WorkSafe released a new poster for the construction industry which will focus predominantly on the quality of supervision provided by builders and subcontractors. |
Thursday, 28 Jan 2010Final chapter in Prosecutions for Tilt Up Collapse
- On 8 March 2006, a worker was killed on a Pakenham construction site when a 14 tonne concrete panel fell on him. The final chapter in the court matters related to this incident was played out in the County Court on 17 December 2009 with the contractor engaged to undertake the tilt up work fined $250,000 and the Director of the company fined $70,000. |
Monday, 14 Dec 2009Model Laws approved by WRMC
On Friday 11 December 2009, the Workplace Relations Ministers Council (WRMC) has approved the Model OHS Act which will form the basis for harmonised OHS laws around Australia from 1 January 2012. |
Friday, 4 Dec 2009Model OHS Laws on Target for Acceptance by WRMC
Work to develop the national model OHS Act, which will form the basis for consistent OHS legislation throughout all States and Territories, remains on target for consideration and acceptance by the Workplace Relations Ministers Council (WRMC) before the end of 2009. |
| Tuesday, 10 Nov 2009Getting your Domestic/Commercial Safety Plan? - A number of members that have taken up subscription of Master Builders Domestic (or commercial) Safety Plan have inquired how they get the safety plan once they have paid for it. |
| Monday, 21 Sep 2009Model OHS Laws to be Released End of September - An exposure draft of the National Model OHS Act will be released for a 6-week public comment period on 28 September 2009. |
Thursday, 13 Aug 2009Further days of action called by unions on model OHS laws -
The Victorian Trades Hall Council have called upon delegates and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) to participate in a rally at 10:00am on Wednesday, 19 August 2009 as part of its campaign against proposed changes to OHS laws which will come into effect once the country’s OHS laws are harmonised. |
| Thursday, 16 Jul 2009Trades Hall call for day of action on model OHS laws - The Victorian Trades Hall Council have called upon Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) to participate in a rally at 10:00am on Tuesday, 28 July 2009, to protest against proposed changes to OHS laws which will come into effect once the country’s OHS laws are harmonised. |
Thursday, 25 Jun 2009Workers able to sue for OHS discrimination
From 1 July 2009, workers will be able to sue their employers for discrimination on the grounds of health and safety as a result of amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 which were passed through State Parliament on 2 June 2009. |
 Thursday, 21 May 2009FSC Scheme no Longer Required
The Federal Safety Commission Accreditation Scheme will not apply to Nation Building projects.
The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner has released a fact sheet outlining changes to the Office of the Federal Safety Commission (FSC) Accreditation Scheme (the scheme). |
Tuesday, 12 May 2009WorkSafe guide on Inspectors
WorkSafe Victoria has released a new publication which outlines how WorkSafe Inspectors will deal with specific safety issues when they enter a workplace.
The publication outlines the general manner in which Inspectors enter workplaces and issue Entry Reports and Notices. It also details the manner in which Inspectors will respond to specific matters such as bullying, Health and Safety Representatives Provisional Improvement Notices (PIN’s) and work cessations. The 40-page publication is well written and would make a useful resource for employers, managers and supervisors that are unfamiliar with the manner in which WorkSafe Inspectors conduct their activities. |
Monday, 20 Apr 2009WorkSafe have sounded an ominous warning of a looming increase in prosecution activity.
WorkSafe has highlighted that the average fine handed out by the courts in the proceeding twelve months was $47,000. This figure is consistent with that being quoted by us at our Trade Nights across Victoria. |
Monday, 30 Mar 2009Learning from the recent scaffold collapse
WorkSafe have released an Alert following the recent Prahran scaffolding collapse, highlighting a range of expectations necessary for the safe erection and use of scaffolds on construction sites. |
Wednesday, 25 Mar 2009Taking advantage of the stimulus
On 3 February 2009, the Commonwealth Government have amended the Australian Government Code and Implementation Guidelines (the guidelines) to make it easier for building contractors to take advantage of the Commonwealth’s $42bn stimulus package. |
| Tuesday, 3 Mar 2009Victoria will have a new OHS Act by around October 2011. However the debate on the content of Victoria’s Act will not take place in 2011 - it will take place over the course of the next six months. |
Monday, 23 Feb 2009National Review into model OHS laws – Second Report Released
On 31 January 2009, the three person panel appointed by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, to review the nations occupational health and safety laws and to make recommendations on the optimal content of a model OHS Act, handed across their second report. |
Thursday, 29 Jan 2009WorkSafe to target housekeeping to address manual handling concerns
From February to May 2009, the Construction Division of WorkSafe will be launching an inspection
campaign focussing on site housekeeping with a view to reducing the incidence of manual handling
injuries (i.e. sprains and strains) attributed to poorly maintained construction work sites. |
| Friday, 23 Jan 2009On Friday 6 February 2008, representatives of the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) will be conducting an information session for Master Builders’ members on the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme. |