OSH information
Contractor Forum
We held an Occupational Safety and Health Contractor's Forum on Friday, 16 March.
Our vision is to halve the Significant Injury Frequency Rate (SIFR) over the next three years. During the workshop, participants gave us some valuable feedback, which will help to inform our own strategies in order to achieve this goal.
A copy of the presentation and a summary of the workshop are available below.
 | OSH Contractor Forum Presentation |
| | Summary of OSH Contractor Forum |
Our Golden Rules to achieve Zero Harm
The Golden Rules have been developed to focus on high risk areas of construction work. We want everyone to keep these rules front of mind every time we perform one of these activities. We must make sure that we understand our responsibility and follow the appropriate standards, procedures, work instructions and processes when performing construction works.
The Golden Rules poster has a one line summary for each area of risk and will be displayed at Water Corporation worksites.
The Golden Rules booklet has more information about each rule and will be available to personnel involved in construction works.
| | Golden Rules poster |
| | The Golden Rules booklet |
Selection and management of contractors
This area describes general Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) procedures and requirements that apply to contractors. We select contractors in accordance with the following procedure:
| | WC-OSH 024 Selection and Management of Contractors |
OSH contractual requirements
The following Water Corporation procedures apply to contractors when working on our sites and assets.
Compliance with the Handbook for Contractors forms part of your contractual requirements with the Water Corporation. Please refer to the Handbook for further information.
| | Handbook for Contractors |
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment or PPE is mandatory at all Water Corporation sites. There are both site-specific and task-specific PPE requirements you need to comply with. The following document outlines our requirements, however be aware that you may also need to consider site specific PPE for particular issues.
| | Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing |
This standard has been revised to include minimum PPE requirements for electrical workers, who work on Water Corporation sites where electrical hazards exist (see Appendix E).
PPE used by contractors and subcontractors shall have flame retardant properties equal to or higher than the cal/cm2 ratings listed in section E8 "Preselected Electrical PPE". Contractors should purchase this PPE through their preferred PPE supplier.
Note that Appendix E will remain marked "draft" until the 31st December 2012, to enable staff and contractors time to transition over to the new PPE for Electrical Workers requirements.
Please ensure that your electrical staff and subcontractors working in the vicinity of live electrical equipment are aware of the requirements of Appendix E and that suitable PPE is purchased and adopted as soon as practical.
If you have any queries regarding the revised standard, please contact your Water Corporation representative or Jon Offszanka, Principal Engineer, Mechanical and Electrical Service Branch, on 9420 2577.
| | Construction Site PPE Requirements |
Clearance to work permits
If you’re a contractor required to work in or around a Water Corporation site, you will need to submit an approved Clearance to Work Permit at least five days prior to commencement of work.
For further information, please consult the following procedure and supporting documentation:
| | WC-OSH 23 Clearance to Work on Water Corporation Assets |
| | Clearance to Work Permit |
| | JHA/JSA Worksheet |
Alcohol and other drugs
It is unacceptable to work on a Water Corporation site under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Our Corporate procedure WC OSH 209 outlines our requirements of you when you are working on our sites or assets.
| | WC-OSH 209 Alcohol and Other Drugs |
Tagging and isolation
Tagging and isolation saves lives by informing others that equipment is being serviced, thereby preventing unauthorised use of the equipment and uncontrolled release of energy.
Tagging and isolation must only be done by authorised persons that have received the necessary training. For further information, please consult WC-OSH 109 Tagging and Isolation. You must be familiar with this document and comply with the listed requirements when working on a Water Corporation site.
| | WC-OSH 109 Tagging and Isolation |
Working in confined spaces
If you are contracted to perform work in a confined space on a Water Corporation site or asset, you must have the necessary nationally accredited training and adhere to WC-OSH 108 Safe Working in Confined Spaces.
| | WC-OSH 108 Safe Working in Confined Spaces |
| | Confined Space Entry Permit |
Working at height
Standard S151 Prevention of Falls provides guidance on how to minimise and prevent injuries to personnel working at heights on Water Corporation sites and assets. Provisions of Standard S151 apply to contractors.
| | S151 Prevention of Falls |
Mobile plant operator competency
The Water Corporation requires contractor plant operators to have passed a competency assessment by a workplace assessor for all mobile plant they operate, in accordance with OSH standard S146 – Mobile Plant Operator Competency Requirements. Always carry proof of your qualifications while onsite so that you can show it if requested.
| | S146 Mobile Plant Operator Competency Requirements |
Public safety at construction sites
To reduce the risk of harm to members of the public at or adjacent to our construction sites, all construction work undertaken directly by the Corporation and our Contractors require an assessment of risk to the public.
Please refer to the following Standard for more information:
| | S152 Public Safety at Construction Sites |
Hot work
Many routine tasks at Water Corporation sites involve performing hot work such as: brazing, soldering, welding, cutting, grinding or use of a naked flame.
If you'll be undertaking any type of work capable of generating sufficient heat to ignite combustible materials, flammable liquids or atmospheric gases, you must first obtain a Hot Work Permit in accordance with the Undertaking Hot Work Procedure. This forms part of your contractual requirements with the Water Corporation.
| | WC-OSH 134 Undertaking Hot Work |
| | Hot Work Permit |
Grid mesh panel assessments
Water Corporation procedure WC-OSH 036 Reinstated Grid Mesh Panel Assessment describes the requirements for the removal, modification and reinstatement of grid mesh panels on Water Corporation sites and assets.
The permit applies when one or more panels of a walkway or landing are temporarily removed then reinstated.
| | WC-OSH 036 Reinstated Grid Mesh Panel Assessments Procedure |
| | Grid Mesh Reinstatement Permit |
Other requirements
Other permits may be required to undertake your work on a Water Corporation site or asset. Your Water Corporation representative can advise you if these are required.
The use of 9” angle grinders by Contractors is banned on all Water Corporation sites. The use of concrete cutting saws colloquially referred to as “Quick Cut Saws” is banned on all Water Corporation sites. The only exception to this is if the quick cut saw is trolley mounted for the purpose of ground cutting. There is a panel of specialist cutting and sawing providers that have met some pre-defined safety criteria and are therefore exempt from the ban. To obtain this list of Contractors or for further information contact your Water Corporation Representative.
