Mind the gap - preventing falls through voids
After it was identified as one of the major issues on house construction sites, WorkCover NSW has launched a campaign with local builders and subcontractors to prevent falls through stair voids and produced a special safety video to help get the message across.
Peter Dunphy, A/General Manager of WorkCover’s Work Health and Safety Division, said more than 1300 workers had been injured in the house construction industry in the two years to July 2012 and WorkCover had launched a targeted project to reduce injuries and illnesses across the industry.
“The house construction industry is one of the state’s most important industries, comprised of almost 9000 businesses that employ more than 44,000 workers, contributing $37.9 billion to the NSW economy,” Dunphy said.
“It’s also one of the state’s highest risk industries, with more than 150 workers seriously injured or killed on the job in the last two years.
“Falls through stair voids on house construction sites have been identified as one of the four major safety issues on house construction sites.
“To help get the message across about the risks, a video safety alert has been produced that local builders and subbies can download on their computer, smartphone or tablet device.”
Dunphy said there were a number of things that could be done to prevent falls through stair voids on house construction sites.
“The safest approach is to plan ahead and have a fixed cover ready to install over any void,” he said.
“The cover must be strong enough for people, materials and likely impacts.
“Where a fixed cover isn’t possible, other safety measures include a working platform that keeps workers away from the void, temporary stairs or a physical barrier like a secure fence or edge protection.
“As part of the site management plan, it’s also important to explain the site-specific void protection to everyone onsite and make sure they know what to do if changes are needed. This includes your workers, subbies and other visitors to the site.”
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