These are some of the most frequently asked health and safety questions that get submitted to Site Safe's safety advisor via the Ask an Advisor online form.
Q: Can you please provide some clarity on what work WorkSafe must be notified about?
A: WorkSafe requires 24 hours' notice of any work that is particularly hazardous.
Below are some hazardous activities they require notification of:
- Construction work with a risk of falling 5 metres or more (exclusions apply).
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Erecting or dismantling scaffolding with a risk of falling 5 metres or more.
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Logging or tree felling undertaken for commercial purposes.
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Use of a lifting appliance where the appliance must lift a mass of 500 kilograms or more at a vertical distance of 5 metres or more (exclusions apply).
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Work in any drive, excavation, or heading in which any person is required to work with a ground cover overhead.
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Work in any excavation in which any face has a vertical height of more than 5 metres and an average slope steeper than a ratio of 1 horizontal to 2 verticals.
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Work in any pit, shaft, trench, or other excavation in which any person is required to work in a space more than 1.5 metres deep and having a depth greater than the horizontal width at the top.
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Work involving the use or storage of explosives at the worksite.
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Work in which a person breathes compressed air or a respiratory medium other than air (diving).
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Work in which a person breathes compressed air or a respiratory medium other than air (not diving).
Q: What are the requirements for providing PPE and payment for the PPE?
A: If you're an employer, it's up to you to ensure your workers have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job and to provide it for them if they don't.
If the PCBU wishes to change the PPE required onsite, the PCBU is responsible for this themselves. The exception is when workers "genuinely and voluntarily choose to provide their own".
Q: Are there any restrictions on wearing slip-on type safety boots on a construction site?
A: Any restrictions on wearing slip-on type footwear are at the discretion of the site or employer. There is no industry or WorkSafe position on this matter. Slip-on safety footwear is considered OK for many construction activities; however, some PCBUs will not accept them for jobs requiring ankle support.
Q: Can I wear a cap or other hat under my Hard Hat?
A: Wearing a cap or other hat under your Hard Hat is usually non-compliant. Winter liners (beanies/skullcaps) may be worn but must be close-fitting to ensure they do not adversely affect the proper fit or function of the hard hat. If in doubt, consult your safety helmet supplier.
Safety helmets require the harness to be in direct contact with the skull to be most effective; usually, a baseball cap will impede performance