Source: WorkSafe QLD
A young roofer was seriously injured in an incident after falling approximately 4-5 metres at a construction site.
Initial enquiries indicated the roofer was attempting to access the scaffold from the roof when for reasons yet to be established, they fell through the scaffold to the ground.
Investigations are continuing.
IMPORTANT
These findings are not yet confirmed, and investigations are continuing into the exact cause.
Safety issues
Fall hazards are found in many workplaces where work is carried out at height. This includes but is not limited to work tasks:
- near an unprotected open edge, for example roof edges, incomplete stairwells or leading formwork edges.
- on roofs where skylights or other potentially brittle surfaces are present.
- near open excavation where a fall risk exists.
The erection, alteration, use and dismantling of a scaffold exposes workers to the risk of a serious fall or being struck by falling objects, such as scaffold components and tools. There is even a risk of scaffold collapse. In addition, unauthorised access, use or alteration of a scaffold can affect its integrity and introduce significant hazards and risks (e.g., the risk of a worker falling from height, if a part of the structure is removed).
Workers accessing a floor or roof from a scaffold can be exposed to the risk of falling if the horizontal gap is large or the scaffold is not adequately tied to the building.
A scaffold can be in place for a significant length of time, with many different workers from various trades having access to and using the scaffold. This means the scaffold could potentially be altered or tampered without the person with management and control of it being aware. A scaffold may be altered, for example, to provide ease of access for specific work activities, and the consequences of these alterations may not be understood.
Ways to manage health and safety
Effective risk management starts with a commitment to health and safety from those who manage the business. If an incident occurs, you’ll need to show the regulator that you’ve used an effective risk management process. This responsibility is covered by your primary duty of care in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
Use the hierarchy of controls to help decide how to eliminate and reduce risks in your place of work. The hierarchy of controls ranks types of control methods from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest. It’s a step-by-step approach to eliminating or reducing risks. You must work through the hierarchy of controls when managing risks, with the aim of eliminating the hazard, which is the most effective control.
Possible control measures to prevent similar incidents
For PCBU’s operating in the construction industry, you must put additional controls in place to manage the risk of falls. Part 6.3, Division 4, Subdivision 2 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, gives detailed information on the requirements you must meet.
The specific requirements for scaffold and scaffolding work are located in Part 5.1, Subdivision 3 – Additional control measures for particular plant and Part 6.3, Subdivision 4 – Scaffolding of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011.
There is almost always a gap between the working face of a scaffold and the building or structure being constructed (internal gap). According to section 3.6.2 of the Scaffolding Code of Practice 2021 (the Code), AS/NZS 1576.1 Scaffolding – General Requirements allows a distance of 100 mm – 225 mm from the scaffold working deck to the building structure horizontally, a 300 mm gap vertically from the top of a floor level and a 300 mm gap from the underside of a soffit level. Section 3.6.2 includes diagrams that illustrate the maximum allowable gap.
A scaffold being used to access a floor or roof should always be tied back to the building to prevent the scaffold moving away from the floor or roof as a worker steps off it. This includes mobile scaffolds.
Consideration should be given to implementing a control to close gaps where work activities are being undertaken above or alongside them. Gaps should be eliminated over common access and egress points. There can sometimes be uncertainty between construction site duty holders about who is responsible for managing the risks posed by scaffold gaps. Initially, the scaffolder is responsible for ensuring the scaffold is compliant during its construction, and before handover and use by other workers.
The person who commissioned the scaffold has a duty to ensure the scaffolding work does not adversely impact on the health and safety of other workers on the site during this time. In addition, the scaffold should be monitored and maintained for the duration of its use to account for factors such as unauthorised alteration, overloading, and adverse environmental conditions. The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 includes requirements regarding mandatory inspection intervals for particular scaffolds.
All PCBUs must ensure the safety of their workers and others when using the scaffold.
In most cases, a combination of the control measures will provide the best solution to minimise the risk to the lowest level reasonably practicable. This includes:
- Working on solid constructions. A solid construction has:
- a surface that can support all people and things that may be located or placed on it. When in doubt, have a structural engineer determine the safe load capacity before use.
- barriers to prevent a fall around its perimeter and any openings. The barrier must be designed and constructed to withstand the force of someone falling against it. Barriers should consist of guardrails, solid balustrades, or other structural components.
- an even surface and gradient that’s easy to negotiate. Surfaces of a solid construction must be non-slip, free from trip hazards and should generally not exceed 7 degrees, (1 in 8 gradient).
- a safe way to enter and exit. For example, permanently installed platforms, ramps, stairways, or fixed ladders.
- In performing scaffolding work where a person or thing may fall more than four metres from the scaffold, a scaffolder must hold a basic, intermediate or advanced high risk work licence as specified under Schedule 3 of the WHS Regulation. Only a person who holds a qualification set out in Schedule 4 of the WHS Regulation may apply for a high risk work licence.
Develop a safe system of work for managing the risk of falls associated with scaffolding. This could include, but is not limited to:
- if high risk construction work is to be carried out, the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 requires that a safe work method statement (SWMS) is prepared before the proposed work starts. All duty holders involved in a high-risk work activity must make sure the work is carried out in accordance with the SWMS.
- providing information, training and instruction to workers and others at the workplace advising them of the exclusion zones in place around scaffolding and adjoining areas to prevent unauthorised persons from accessing the area.
- organising and sequencing of work tasks – you can sequence jobs so different trades are not working above or below each other at the same time.
- PCBU’s must also consult with workers whose health and safety is likely to be affected (consultation must be regular and ongoing). Further guidance is available in the Work health and safety consultation, co-operation and co-ordination code of practice 2021 (PDF, 0.49 MB).
- consultation with all relevant parties before work starts. Sometimes a PCBU may share responsibility for a health and safety matter with other PCBU’s who are involved in the same activities or who share the same workplace. In these situations, the PCBUs must exchange information to find out who is doing what and work together in a cooperative and coordinated way so that all risks are eliminated or minimised as far as reasonably practicable.
- the person responsible for the erection or alteration of the scaffold should provide the PCBU or principal contractor with a handover certificate and keep it on site until the scaffold has been dismantled.
- developing procedures for the inspection and maintenance of scaffolds and scaffolding components to ensure they remain in a safe condition. The required frequency of inspections may vary depending on weather and site conditions, the type and size of the scaffold and the risks associated with scaffold collapse.
- implementing good housekeeping practices by ensuring items are cleaned up and kept away from edges and stairways.
- conducting an inspection of the work area prior to commencing a task to ensure that it is safe.
Depending on the task, any remaining risk must be minimised with suitable personal protective equipment. For example; hard hats; gloves; protective footwear; eye protection; high visibility clothing.
The control measures you put in place should be reviewed regularly to make sure they work as planned.
Young workers
Business owners must also ensure the work environment, and the way young employees do their job is safe and healthy, regardless of the type and terms of their employment.
Employers of young workers should:
- understand their risk profile
- ensure a safe and healthy workplace
- provide information, training, instruction, and supervision
- develop a positive workplace culture.
Consider the tasks you give to new and young workers given their skills, abilities, and experience. Before a young person begins work, a PCBU should:
- identify the gaps in the worker’s knowledge and assess their ability to work safely (competency should be tested).
- not accept a young worker’s assurance that he or she is experienced and competent.
It’s important for young workers to actively participate in the way work health and safety is managed. This means taking induction and training seriously, using the risk management process for work tasks, and asking for help before starting a task they’re not familiar with or comfortable carrying out.
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