Risk Assessment Workflow for Construction Workers

admin — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 03:41:38 +0000

In the hussle and bussle of high risk construction work, an independent contractor will be on several different sites in a month so having a firm understanding of the risk assessment worksheet is vital. At each construction site they must carry out several safety and risk management processes or face strict penalties. Below is a high-level diagram of the processes that construction contractors should carry out based on our risk assessment productivity case study.

1. Create Risk Assessment: Before starting any high risk construction work, a risk assessment must be conducted. Also known as a job safety analysis, risk assessments must include a safe work method statement (SWMS) and a risk assessment matrix.

2. Present to Foreman: The foreman or manager on the worksite must be presented with the risk assessment and SWMSs before work commences.

3. Conduct Work: All work should be conducted in a safe manner that complies with the safe operating procedures specified in the risk assessment.

4. Filing and Auditing: At the end of the day (or job) the risk assessments and SWMS’s should be filed and kept to pass any possible audits within the next 7 years.

There are two really good reasons why you should do risk assessments. First and foremost, they are designed to help keep your workmates safe. It is possible that a period of time will elapse between your team’s risk assessment training and its actual practice. So a risk assessment is a great way to remind your team of the inherent risks in high risk construction work and show them what risk management steps must be taken. The second reason you should do risk assessments is that you are legally required to. The Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 states that before carrying out any high risk work you must do them or face strict fines and penalties.

So, where to from here? If you have a paper-based process in place, have a look at how much time and how much money this costs your business. Or if you are ready to tech-up and automate your process online then have a look at SafeWorkPro. Lets work safe Australia!

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Risk Assessment Review

admin — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 04:29:47 +0000

Writing risk assessments is something people involved in high risk construction work deal with on a daily basis. The paperwork involved can seem monotonous and just plain annoying which begs the question: why are risk assessments important?

A successfully completed risk assessment can be the one thing preventing an accident or injury in the workplace. Safety should be an employer’s first priority, so how do you tell a good risk assessment from a bad one? Well to ensure you safely finish the job, here’s some risk assessment guidance.

1: Keep it simple, stupid

Use short and active words to describe the risks and the control measures. The more words a risk assessment for construction has, the more opportunities a worker has to misread it. That isn’t to say your risk assessments should include as few words as possible but by using an active tone (ie ‘clean work area’ not ‘work area must be cleaned’) you’ll minimise confusion and make reading it a lot easier.

2: Review and record any changes

High risk construction work is continually changing and new, previously unseen risks can emerge throughout the course of a job. If new risks or hazards do become apparent, ensure they are recorded into the existing risk assessment and made available for all workers on site to see. Clear communication between workers will prevent an accident occurring just because someone forgot to read the updated risk assessment forms.

3: Keep an ear out for possible alternatives

Paperwork isn’t the best way to complete risk assessments. Sure it’s been used for years and most workers are pretty content with it, but paperwork is time consuming and a total hassle for managers to store for later use should an audit be requested. Risk assessment software is a growing area of interest in the construction industry and something we here at SafeWorkPro take very seriously. Knowing what new technological developments can improve your productivity and safety will define how your business grows into the future.

For more information of the risk assessment process and other useful tips, checkout the SafeWorkPro Blog.

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