Common construction industry hazards

According to Safe Work Australia, the construction industry has consistently been one of the highest-risk industries in terms of fatalities. In 2022, the construction industry reported 24 worker fatalities, which accounted for a significant portion of the total workplace fatalities in Australia. Health and safety in the construction industry is heavily regulated when it comes to high risk work. These areas often require special attention, training, and compliance with stringent safety standards. While specific regulations can vary by jurisdiction, here are some common high-risk work areas defined under OHS/WHS regulations:

  • Risks: Falls from ladders, scaffolding, roofs, and other elevated platforms.
  • Controls: Fall protection systems, guardrails, safety nets, harnesses, and proper training.
  • Risks: Hazardous atmospheres, limited entry and exit, risk of engulfment, and asphyxiation.
  • Controls: Confined space permits, atmospheric testing, ventilation, and emergency procedures.
  • Risks: Musculoskeletal injuries from lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling heavy loads.
  • Controls: Ergonomic assessments, mechanical aids, training on proper techniques, and job rotation.
  • Risks: Electric shock, burns, arc flash, and explosions.
  • Controls: Lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, insulated tools, proper grounding, and training.
  • Risks: Entanglement, crushing, amputations, and being struck.
  • Controls: Machine guards, safety interlocks, training, and regular maintenance.
  • Risks: Exposure to asbestos fibers, leading to lung diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
  • Controls: Licensed asbestos removalists, containment measures, personal protective equipment (PPE), and proper disposal.
  • Risks: Cave-ins, falls, hazardous atmospheres, and underground utilities.
  • Controls: Protective systems (e.g., trench boxes, shoring), sloping, atmospheric monitoring, and safe work procedures.
  • Risks: Chemical burns, poisoning, respiratory issues, and fire or explosion.
  • Controls: Safety data sheets (SDS), proper storage, use of PPE, ventilation, and spill response plans.
  • Risks: Structural collapse, flying debris, noise, and dust exposure.
  • Controls: Engineering controls, exclusion zones, PPE, and proper planning and supervision.
  • Risks: Collisions, rollovers, and struck-by injuries.
  • Controls: Operator training, traffic management plans, rollover protective structures (ROPS), and regular inspections.
  • Risks: Delayed emergency response, extreme weather conditions, and lack of access to resources.
  • Controls: Communication systems, emergency plans, and providing adequate supplies and training.
  • Risks: Exposure to toxic gases, oxygen-deficient environments, and flammable or explosive atmospheres.
  • Controls: Gas monitoring, ventilation, respiratory protection, and emergency procedures.

What actions should be taken to prevent incidents

When it comes to high risk work, legislation required employers take particular measures which include:

Licensing and Certification

High-risk work activities require licenses or certifications for workers and contractors which include the following: Scaffolding, Dogging and Rigging, Crane and Hoist Operation, Forklift Operation, Pressure Equipment Operation.

Risk Assessments

Employers must conduct thorough risk assessments to identify and control hazards in high-risk work areas. Safety Authorities mandate the use of Safe Work Method Statements which must be prepared before commencing high risk construction work.

Emergency Procedures

Develop and implement emergency procedures for potential incidents related to high-risk work.

Construction case study

Ladder fatality

building construction whs

In August 2019, an Abresham Pty Ltd painter was grinding the ceiling at a UFG construction site in Pendle Hill, NSW when he fell off the ladder he was on and hit the concrete floor.

The worker, who was on his first day at the site, sustained severe head injuries and died a week later.

The company was fined $400,000, after the court found that an unsuitable ladder was used and slammed its site induction for being “so inadequate” that it failed to detect that the worker did not have a “white card”. The court also found;

It could have taken steps to prevent the fall, like providing adequate training and supervision relating to the dangers posed by working on ladders, ensuring contractors had appropriate safe work method statements that were understood by workers, and requiring the use of work platforms instead of ladders for certain tasks, he found.

Read more about the case here

How we can help

Your Safety Partners have over 15 years experience servicing the construction industry and are able to help with the development and implementation of safety systems including:

  • Reviewing all your safety documentation and identifying gaps
  • Development of Safe Work Method Statements and other safety documentation tailored to your business
  • Providing and managing an electronic platform to manage all your contractor onboarding and safety
  • Developing and deploying e-learning inductions for all your workers
  • Providing electronic solution for Safe Work Method Statement sign off
  • Facilitating Tool Box Talks
  • Providing an electronic platform for capturing all licences and qualifications
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