Impact of OHS Regulations on Quarries

Complying to Part 5.1 “Construction” of the OHS Regulations

IN general, construction work means:

Any work performed in connection with the construction, alteration, conversion, fitting out, commissioning, renovation, refurbishment, decommissioning or demolition of any building or structure or any similar activity.

This definition is quite broad given that each term has been defined. For instance the term ‘structure’ includes fixed plant such as recycling plants, crushers, and concrete batching plants.

The definition includes the prefabrication or testing of elements at a place specifically established for a construction project. This would include preparing bitumen at a bitumen plant specifically established for a road construction project or undertaking on-site concrete batch testing.

The construction of a new screening or crushing plant which involves several construction phases including foundations for both the plant and the building structure within which the plant is situated, the building of the structure and the installation of the actual plant is clearly considered to be construction work under 5.1.2 (1). Note: Page 3 of the general construction guide gives ‘concrete batching plant’ as a relevant example of a structure (fixed plant) covered by the regulations.

There are however specific exclusions such as:

• Greenfield surveys and investigations
• The prefabrication of elements as standard stock for sale
• Routine or minor testing, maintenance or repair work
• Extracting construction materials from a Work Authority

WorkSafe considers that extraction stops at the point of the material being dug out of the ground. Screening and crushing are considered separate operations which may or may not take place at the site of the quarry.

That is the definition of construction work does not cover the actual operation of screening or crushing plant at a Work Authority.

Construction Works Above $250,000

There are specific requirements in addition to the standard requirements for those projects valued at more than$250,000. Primarily, these sites need to have nominated a ‘Principle Contractor’. This person or company is normally the owner; however this can be delegated. Their requirements are to:

• Display a sign with contact details
• Prepare a health and safety coordination plan and keep it up to date
• Make the coordination plan available for inspection
• Make sure that new starters are aware of the coordination plan

These plans have to include the following information at minimum:

• The name, positions and responsibilities of all people who have specific responsibilities for health and safety
• The arrangements for coordinating the health and safety of everyone who is engaged to do construction work
• The arrangements for managing OHS incidents
• Any site specific rules, with the arrangements for ensuring that everyone at the workplace is informed about them

All Construction Works

In addition to the rules for projects valued over $250,000, there are rules in place to manage the risks at all construction sites irrespective of the project value. This primarily consists of the following:

• Controlling risks
• Ensure ‘Safe Work Method Statements’ are prepared and used for any high risk works (for instance where there is a risk of falling more than 2 metres)
• Ensure all those working on site have been inducted both to the construction industry (i.e. hold a ‘red card’ or its equivalent) and to the site itself

Comments
This part of the OHS Regulations will not be enforceable until 1 July 2008.

Further information and more detail is available from the WorkSafe website www.worksafe.vic.gov.au

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