Description:

Conduct and document a safety inspection of a construction worksite. You will need to identify hazards and assess risks at the site, complete an inspection checklist, a JSA and a SWMS, and consult with an on-site supervisor to discuss risk controls.

You will need to complete an inspection report, making recommendations to control any hazards identified during your inspection.

Finally, you will need to complete a short series of written questions about construction site safety communication.

Part A: During your inspection

You will need to identify hazards at the work site and perform a risk assessment for each one. Your inspection should also note any non-compliance issues with OHS/WHS legislation (as appropriate in your state/territory).

Before you begin, prepare a simple inspection plan - this should include a list of the resources you will need to bring with you and refer to, and the questions you will need to ask.

You'll need to obtain and fill out the following forms and templates during your inspection:

a) An inspection checklist

b) A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) for one work task you observed being undertaken during your inspection

c) A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) to be followed by workers at the site

d) A risk assessment tool to assess any identified risks.

Part B: After your safety inspection While on site, you will need to:

a) Consult with a manager, supervisor or OHS manager at the site and discuss your inspection findings to talk about standard/suitable controls for the hazards identified.  You'll need to discuss how the proposed controls will address statutory and compliance requirements.

b) Obtain a signed declaration from the site supervisor, confirming that you conducted a suitable inspection and the recommendations they will implement. After you have left the site, you will need to:

c) Complete an inspection report, including recommendations and actions to control the identified risks. Your recommendations should include strategies for reviewing the effectiveness of proposed controls.

d) Contact the site supervisor (by phone, email or face-to-face) and follow up on the implementation of the controls. Have they been implemented? If not, why not? If so, what improvements have resulted? You may use the template provided to make a record of your follow up.

Part C: On-site WHS communication

Question 1:

a) Who are construction employers legally required to consult about health and safety?

b) When should consultation occur?

c) Your answers should refer to the appropriate OHS/WHS Act for your state/territory. What is the name of this Act, and who is the body that regulates it?

Question 2: List three effective WHS communication methods.

Question 3:

a) What type of induction training would you need to undertake before entering a building site? (Answer in the context of your own state/territory.)

b) What type of training and which qualification would you need before you are permitted to operate a tower crane on a building site?

c) If you needed to undertake this training, where could you do so?

Question 4: Name three OHS advisory standards that apply to your state/territory.

Question 5: How could you check that your on-site communication and training strategies were effective, and that workers knew everything they needed to know about construction safety?

Question 6: Which person or people would you consult if:

a) You found that a forklift was not designed to comply with Australian Standards?
b) You found that the scaffolding on a building site was not erected according to WHS regulatory requirements?