Hazard identification

Death and serious injury can occur from exposure to electrical hazards on construction sites. The harsh conditions on many construction sites can damage electrical equipment and cables, and reduce their lifespan.

Check electrical equipment has been tested and tagged and make sure there is no risk of hitting anything that could electrocute you, such as overhead powerlines, or hidden or underground live cables.

Hazardous substances can cause catastrophic accidents, such as fires and explosions, and serious harm to people exposed to them.

Examples of some common hazardous substances include fuels, paints, solvents and cleaning products.

You can be exposed by breathing them in, through your skin or by swallowing/ingesting them. Exposure can cause death, cancer, damage to your internal organs like the liver and kidneys, and fertility problems.

Think about your surroundings, the other contractors on site and how you might be hurt by things like:

• Being trapped between a vehicle/plant and a structure.
• Vehicles/plant colliding with each other or a structure.
• Items that fall off vehicles/plant (unsecured or unstable loads).
• Falling from a vehicle/plant.

Tools, plant, and vehicles can create serious hazards. Even if you use them every day, it’s important to consider how they can hurt you as they are some of the most serious hazards on site.

Some things to watch out for are:

• Mechanical failure.
• Operator error.
• Incorrect/lack of guarding.
• Being trapped by vehicles or plant.
• Environmental conditions.
• Poor design.

You can be seriously injured, even if you only fall a short distance. Watch out for things like:

• Trip hazards (e.g. loose cables, mess on the floor).
• Uncovered excavations.
• Unsecured covers.
• Uneven surfaces.
• Slippery surfaces.
• Working at height (e.g. ladders, scaffolds, cherry pickers etc.).
• Using harnesses incorrectly or without the right training or supervision.

Take time to plan your work and make sure you have the right tools and equipment for the job. Speak up if you see someone else doing something unsafe, cutting corners or using the wrong tool for the job. Look out for:

• New tools or plant with different controls.
• Operator positioning and poor visibility.
• Lack of training.
• Non-compliant equipment.
• Poorly maintained tools, and wear and tear of older tools.
• Tools not being used for their intended purpose.
• Equipment that does not comply with New Zealand standards.

You are most at risk from manual handling injuries when:

• A load is too heavy, it’s difficult to grasp, or it’s too large.
• The physical effort is too strenuous.
• They are required to bend and twist when handling heavy loads.
• The task is repetitive.