Safety Toolbox Talks by SaferMe

In this toolbox talk we talk about Underground Utilities.

Working near underground services can pose a significant hazard to workers, public bypasses, and the business. The main services to be aware of are:

• Water pipes
• Gas pipes
• Electricity cables
• Telecommunication cables

A fall from height poses a severe risk of injury or death. When properly installed, safety nets can reduce the distance and impact of a fall to minimise the likelihood of harm.

Falls from heights is one of the biggest killers on construction sites, most of which occur from a height of less than 4 metres. Scaffolding causes many of these incidents, largely due to workers becoming complacent to Scaffolding Safety procedures.

Employers have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to protect their workers, other workers, and anyone else, including the public, from any harm that could arise from work and/or worksites under their control. This toolbox talk identifies various hazards that are particularly relevant for the public and discusses strategies to mitigate risk.

A simple, 5 minute outline of what to cover in a toolbox talk on Slips, Trips, and Falls..

Slips, trips and falls are a common reason for many of the injuries in workplaces. They can cause minor injuries but can also lead to serious, long-term injuries. Many slip, trips and falls are avoidable and there are usually easy solutions a workplace can apply to control the risk, either by eliminating or minimising it. It could be as simple as cleaning up a spillage straight away, or moving a cord off a walkway which can prevent injuries from occurring.

There is challenge and there is stress.

“Challenge” is motivating while “Stress” drives poor decision making that, at best, results in loss of productivity and, at worst, results in injury or death. Everyone at a workplace has a duty to identify and manage stress to keep everyone safe.

The PCBU has a duty to protect its workers and others from harm in the workplace. To do this, the PCBU must identify hazards in the workplace, risk assesses those hazards, and put in place controls that eliminate or minimize the associated risk. The process of identifying a hazard is covered in the hazard assessment toolbox and the specific application of controls is covered in the various hazard-specific toolboxes – this toolbox is on risk assessment.

Employers have a duty to protect their workers and others from harm in the workplace. To do this, they must identify and control any hazards. Likewise, workers need to know about the hazards on the job and how to protect themselves. The aim of this toolbox is to provide education on how to assess a workplace for any potential hazards.

While heatwaves are making news in 2021, construction workers and other professionals are exposed to heat stress risks every summer. Heat is a silent killer in the workplace and on the job site, causing people to suddenly collapse and fail to recover at the hospital.

In this toolbox talk we cover off the basics around recognizing different types of heat related illnesses and how to put controls in place to avoid them.