Health & safety for contractors

It is unacceptable to work on our sites under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Our procedure WC-OSH 209 outlines our requirements if you are completing duties at a Water Corporation operational site, including (but not limited to) a requirement to participate in random drug and alcohol testing.

WC OSH 209 Alcohol and other drugs

Water Corporation is committed to ensuring that Asbestos and Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) present on our sites is appropriately managed and controlled to protect the health and well-being of employees, contractors, the community and the environment.

PCY382 Asbestos Policy

HSEAA-P-131 Working with Asbestos Procedure

Working Safely with Asbestos Checklist

Asbestos Unexpected Finds Work Instruction

Asbestos Disposal Record Form

Working Safely with Coated Pipes Factsheet

If you’re a contractor required to work in or around our site, you will need to submit an approved Clearance to Work Permit at least five days prior to commencement of work. Please consult the following procedure and supporting documentation.

WC OSH 023 Clearance to work

Clearance to work permit

Contractors constructing new metallic pipelines or working near our existing metallic pipelines need to be aware of, and effectively manage, electrical risk associated with the work. The documents below provide information relevant to this and need to be complied with.

Electrical safety in metallic pipeline construction

Pipeline voltage mitigation

Our procedure below describes the requirements for the removal, modification and reinstatement of grid mesh panels on our 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

Grid mesh permit

Grid mesh basic assessment guidelines

Many routine tasks at our 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 Hot Work Procedure. This forms part of your contractual requirements with us.

WC OSH 134 Hot Work – Obsolete – only applicable to Contracts before 1 Jan 2018

HSEAA-P-134 Hot Work

Hot work permit

We require contractor plant operators to have passed a competency assessment by a workplace assessor for all mobile plants they operate, in accordance with the following standard. Always carry proof of your qualifications when onsite so that you can show it if requested.

S146 Mobile plant and trenchless technology operator licencing and competency

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is mandatory at all of our 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.

S022 Personal protective equipment and clothing

Request for HSEAA concession form

PPE posters

To reduce the risk of harm to members of the public at or adjacent to our construction sites, all construction work undertaken directly by us and our contractors require an assessment of risk to the public. Please refer to the following standard for more information:

S152 Public safety at contruction sites

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 refer to the following document. You must be familiar with this document and comply with the listed requirements when working on our sites.

HSEAA-P-150 Lock Out and Tag Out Procedure

The below documentation provides guidance on how to minimise injuries to personnel working at heights on our sites and assets. These standards apply to contractors.

Safety Essentials – Fall prevention inspection form

S151 Prevention of falls

If you are contracted to perform work in a confined space on one of our sites or assets, you must have the necessary nationally accredited training and adhere to the following standard.

S466 Confined space

Confined spaces – asset guidelines

Other permits may be required to undertake your work on our sites or assets. Your Water Corporation representative will advise you if these are required.

The use of 9” angle grinders by Contractors is banned on all our sites. The use of concrete cutting saws colloquially referred to as “Quick Cut Saws” is banned on all our 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.