Scaffolding compliance campaign - Heads of Workpalce Safety ...

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auKey objectives• Increase the level of scaffold compliance withinthe construction industry.• Determine the current level of compliance toAS 1576.• Determine areas of non- compliance.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auScope• Scaffolding inspected:– prefabricated– aluminium–trestle– swinging stages• This does not include scaffolding under twometres in height (from working platforms) orworkplaces that are not construction sites.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auNational compliance levels• An inspection of 842 sites showed that only 59per cent of scaffolding complied with AS 1576.• Industry compliance:– 67 per cent of commercial sites– 49 per cent of housing sites– 62 per cent of demolition and asbestos removal sites.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auIssues identified nationally• General scaffolding:– 85 per cent of footings were inadequate– 16 per cent of safety measures for over head powerlines (OHPL) were inadequate– 74 per cent of ties were inadequate– 81 per cent of bracing was inadequate– 22 per cent of access to scaffolding was notadequate.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auExample 1• Some footings that were found to be inadequateand placement on sole boards.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auExample 2• Safe access to scaffolding

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auIssues identified nationally• Suspended scaffolding:– 11 per cent of businesses did not inspect scaffolding daily– 20 per cent of businesses did not inspect scaffolding every 30days– 7 per cent of businesses did not train staff adequately– 9 per cent of scaffolding cradles were not in good condition– 38 per cent did not have adequate access to scaffolding– 30 per cent did not have a secondary rope– 33 per cent did not have counter weights– 43 per cent of scaffolding was not as per drawings.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auQueensland inspections• 246 inspections across Queensland.• This represents 29 per cent of inspectionscarried out nationally.• Types of scaffolding used:– prefabricated– suspended– tube and coupler.• Prefabricated scaffolding used in a majority ofwork sites across Queensland.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auCommercial vs. domestic audits(By region)Number of commercial and domestic scaffold audits by region7060605040393027201323161821141090BNSC BSGC CQ NQ SWCommercialDomestic

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auQueensland compliance results• An inspection of 246 sites across Queenslandshowed that 59 per cent of sites inspected inQueensland comply with AS 1576.• This result is in line with national complianceresults.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auNotices issued• 139 notices issued throughout Queensland:– 92 improvement notices– 43 prohibition notices– 4 infringement notices.• These figures are higher than national results,however this may be due to alternate penaltytypes being available in other states.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auNotice type by region

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auNotice type by region35Number of penalty types by region303025252420161510108115532 230BNSC BSGC CQ NQ SWImprovement Notice Penalty Prohibition

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auNotices issued• Notices were issued for various issues:– 16 per cent issued for maintenance issues– 8 per cent issued for access issues– 8 per cent issued for issues relating to ties– 56 per cent issued for other issues.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auNon-compliance issues by region• Other non-compliance issues account for 56 percent of the total number of notices issued.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auNon- compliance issues by region• ‘Other’ consisted of:– decks not cleaned/poor access– footings for scaffold not appropriate– sole boards/ base plates incorrectly installed and toe boardsmissing– erosion under and around sole boards– standards not protected from collision from plant and vehicles onsite– no scaffold plans– scaffold not signed off– internal gap in excess of 225 mm.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auExample 1• Erosion under and around sole boards.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auExample 2• Internal gap in excess of 225 mm.• Lap-boards missing and not captured.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auNon-compliance issues by regionNumber of commercial and domestic scaffold audits by region7060605040393027201323161821141090BNSC BSGC CQ NQ SWCommercialDomestic

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auWhere to from here…• Advisory campaign– Information sessions, fact sheets.• Enforcement campaign.– Further inspections, commencing late May 2010.• Evaluation of second audit campaign results.

Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandwww.worksafe.qld.gov.auFurther information• Visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au• Phone Infoline 1300 369 915• Sign up for eNEWS (free email subscriptionservice) at www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.