Building and construction
Key information to identify, reduce, and eliminate construction-related hazards, with a focus on the highest risk harms.
Inspectors are now targeting:
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We've launched a blueprint to reduce fatalities, injury and illness rates in the NSW building and construction industry by 2026.
Safety on construction sites
- What to expect when you get a visit from an SafeWork NSW inspector
- Code of Practice – Construction Work (PDF, 1014.41 KB)
- Code of Practice – Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination (PDF, 635.62 KB)
- Code of Practice – How to manage work health and safety risks (PDF, 556.72 KB)
- Your responsibilities if engaging contractors or labour hire
- Conditions and permits for Union entry permit holders
- Housing industry site safety pack
- Learn how we target key harms in the construction industry in our 2023 snapshot which showcases our initiatives and outcomes.
- Resources from the Centre for Work Health and Safety
A-Z safety topics and resources
Asbestos
Any house or building constructed or renovated prior to 1990 could contain asbestos.
Useful resources include:
- for Tradies – on-site
- Find a licenced asbestos removalist or assessor in your area
- How to get a Class A asbestos removal licence
- How to get a Class B asbestos removal licence
- How to get an asbestos assessor licence
- Under certain circumstances, an asbestos removalist must notify us to remove asbestos
- Code of Practice – How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace
- Code of Practice – How to safely remove asbestos
Concrete placing equipment
Don't get "stuck" with poor safety
There have recently been several serious safety incidents involving concrete placing equipment.
These include:
- workers being hit by a concrete line hose
- concrete hoses bursting due to blockages, expelling concrete at a high force
- equipment coming hitting powerlines and scaffolding.
To report unsafe work, download the Speak Up Save Lives app or call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.
How to stay safe
Workers in control of concrete placing equipment must ensure all installed safety devices are serviceable and functioning as designed.
Safety controls and auxiliary safety devices must not be modified, bypassed or defeated.
Ensure:
- safe work systems are in place for set-up, placement and concrete operations
- safe distances from overhead power lines
- workers are adequately licensed, trained, skilled and supervised
- equipment is inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ requirements
- exclusion zones are in place to prevent unauthorised access when operations are underway
- ground conditions are suitable in supporting the operation of the concrete placement equipment and outriggers.
More information
COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has evolved since it was declared in March 2020. In early 2023, the management of COVID-19 transitioned from a national public health response to being a "known" health hazard that persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must manage under their WHS duties.
Under WHS law, all PCBUs (usually an employer or business) are required to manage COVID-19 exposure and transmission risks to workers and others in the workplace in the same way as any workplace health and safety hazard – by using a risk management approach to eliminate and/or minimise the risks in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable.
Useful resources include:
- SafeWork NSW COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
- COVID-19 business resources – NSW Government
Cranes
The common risks associated with cranes are loads falling or the crane hitting a building, powerlines, scaffold or person.
You need a high risk work (HRW) licence to operate most cranes.
Information on how to get a HRW crane licence.
Mobile cranes
Useful resources include:
- Roles and responsibilities when hiring or using mobile crane
- Safety Alert – Using mobile cranes in ‘pick and carry’ operations
- Safety Checklist – Mobile crane safety for PCBUs (PDF, 166.04 KB)
- Guide for crane operators (PDF, 1225.66 KB)
See more information on mobile cranes
Tower cranes
Useful resources include:
Demolition
Demolition Licence Holders: new regulations are coming 1 March 2023. Learn what you need to know.
The major risks for demolition work include structural collapse, exposure to dust, silica and asbestos and hitting electrical services.
You must be licenced for demolition work and notify SafeWork NSW when demolishing in some circumstances.
Useful resources include:
- Find a demolition licence holder in your area
- Getting a demolition licence
- Safety alert – building collapse during excavation of an adjacent construction site
- Code of Practice - Demolition (PDF, 668.8 KB)
See more demolition information including notification requirements
Design
Consideration should be given during the design phase for buildings and structures to eliminate or minimise risks to the health and safety of persons during the construction process.
Useful resources include:
- Code of Practice - Safe design of structures (PDF)
- Construct NSW is the government's latest industry reform for design and building practitioners.
Electrical
The most common electrical risks include hitting overhead and underground powerlines, working on live equipment, and arc flashes. Consult with the supply authority and de-energise equipment before working near electricity. Don't do electrical work without a licence.
Useful resources
Codes of practice
- Managing electrical risks in the workplace (PDF, 1337.36 KB) provides more information on inspection and testing of electrical equipment.
- Work near overhead powerlines (PDF, 3569.89 KB) provides more information on how to protect workers from the risks arising when working near overhead power lines and associated electrical equipment.
Factsheet and checklists
- The Electrical safety in construction inspection checklist (PDF, 196.38 KB) has been developed for principal contractors and site supervisors to assist in complying with the electrical requirements when onsite.
- The Electrical practices – construction and demolition sites fact sheet provides an overview of the electrical requirements when on a construction or demolition site.
- The Electrical risks at the workplace fact sheet provides general guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and workers on managing electrical risks at the workplace.
Electrical and power pages
- Understand the requirements for electrical equipment inspection (testing and tagging).
- Know when you need a residual current device (RCD).
- Know the specific requirements for working with de-energised electrical equipment.
- Understand the safety requirements when working near power lines – overhead and underground.
Licensing
Other websites
- Master Electricians Association provides further advice and membership opportunities for the electrical industry.
Videos
This is a recording of a webinar presented by SafeWork NSW and NSW Fair Trading Inspectors. It outlines simple measures to work safely with, or near, electricity and electrical equipment in the construction industry.
Excavation
Operators of load-shifting equipment must be provided with adequate information, training, instruction and supervision to work safely.
Before commencing work you need to obtain current underground essential services information (location and depth) relating to the workplace and adjacent areas by contacting Before You Dig Australia.
Read more about excavations and earthmoving plant in construction
Falling objects in construction
Fall prevention must be considered and implemented first before considering options for arresting the fall of objects.
Protect workers by using control measures for falling objects
The falling objects fact sheet (PDF, 122.91 KB) is a must-have resource for PCBUs and workers.
It provides practical information on how to manage the risks to health and safety caused by falling objects.
It details the responsibilities of PCBUs and provides a list of common items that pose a threat on construction sites, such as tools, walls and materials.
The fact sheet lists numerous ways to implement control measures for fall prevention, falling objects and fall arrest.
Before you secure or move a load, work at heights, or begin demolition work, make sure you read the fact sheet.
To help workers and visitors understand best practice print out and display at your worksite.
Download the fact sheet (PDF, 122.91 KB)
Other resources
Formwork
The main risks with formwork are falls from heights and falling objects, mostly timber.
Falls from heights during the construction of conventional formwork can be avoided. This video looks at useful ways you can manage the risk of falls from heights.
Licences and authorisations
Workers require a licence or permit to undertake certain activities in the workplace.
Useful resources include:
- Employers can conduct a licence check at Verify.licence to look up a builder, tradesperson or SafeWork licence as part of your induction process. You must ensure workers are licenced for the activities they are doing. Fines may apply (link).
- How to get a high risk work licence including for dogging, cranes, scaffolding, rigging, hoists, concrete placing booms and elevating work platforms.
- How to get a white card - also called general induction construction training
- How to get an asbestos work licence including licenced asbestos assessor, class A (friable) and class B (non-friable) – as well as asbestos removal supervisor nomination
- How to get a demolition licence
- How to get a traffic control work card including traffic controller, implement traffic control plans and prepare a work zone traffic management plan
- How to arrange plant registration for design or items, such as tower and mobile cranes, concrete placing booms
- How to get an explosives licence including blasting and storage
See NSW Fair Trading for occupational licences including electrical workers, builders, carpenters, plumbers etc
Manual tasks
Manual tasks can turn in to musculoskeletal disorders, if they are repetitive, sustained, high or sudden force, awkward or through vibration.
Useful resources include:
- Find out how to reduce the risk of manual tasks through the PErforM program
- Code of practice – Hazardous manual tasks (PDF)
Mental health
Construction workers are more than twice as likely to take their own lives as the general population.
Useful resources include:
- Find out the basics of how to create a mentally healthy workplace
- See our YouTube video playlist on “mentally healthy workplaces”
- Fact sheet for site supervisors and principal contractors – Mental health in construction
- Toolbox talk for workers – Mentally healthy construction workplaces
- Where to get free training and coaching on mentally healthy workplaces - Mental health at work matters
- Poster – Mental health in construction (tradie version)
- Code of practice – Managing psychosocial hazards in the workplace
See the Mental health at work website
Mobile communication devices
Using your phone while on a construction site distracts you from being alert to hazards and risks around you.
Your full attention is required to stay safe on a construction site. Potential hazards and risks are all around you.
Using your phone significantly slows your reaction times, restricting your ability to be aware and respond to hazards. This not only puts you at risk of injury, but also endangers those around you.
Learn more about the risks of using mobile communication devices while operating (or working near) mobile or high risk plant.
Plant, machinery and equipment
Many worksite incidents involve being hit by mobile plant, trucks and vehicles – or being struck by unguarded machine parts.
Read more plant, machinery and equipment (design, supply, operation) information
Useful resources include:
- Excavations and earthmoving plant in construction
- Code of practice – Managing the risk of plant in the workplace
- Find out about plant registration requirements, such as tower and mobile cranes, concrete placing booms
- Fact sheet - Concrete placing equipment operations
- Find out about mobile communication devices on construction sites.
Scaffold
The main risks with scaffold include falls from incomplete scaffolds, being hit by tools or materials that fall off them and scaffold collapse. Tradies who don’t hold a scaffold licence must not erect, alter or dismantle a scaffold where the risk of a person or object falling is more than 4 metres.
For employers
Useful resources include:
- Download our scaffold safety checklist for site supervisors (PDF, 567.71 KB)
- Use the scaffold certificate handover template (PDF, 64.48 KB) – including the minimum information required by a scaffolder upon handover to a business
- Consult with your workers using our toolbox talk – using scaffolds (PDF, 690.33 KB)
For scaffolders
Useful resources include:
- Scaffolding Industry Safety Standard (PDF, 11195.23 KB) – SafeWork NSW
- Erecting, altering and dismantling scaffolding – SafeWork NSW
- General guide for scaffolds and scaffolding work – SafeWork Australia
- Guide for scaffold inspection and maintenance – SafeWork Australia
Silica
Silica is 100 times smaller than a grain of sand. You can be breathing it in without even knowing.
Useful resources include:
- YouTube video playlist on ”silica awareness” including resources in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese
- Code of Practice - Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
- Toolbox talk for site supervisors to provide safety advice to workers who may encounter silica dust on the job - Silica in construction (PDF, 560.12 KB)
- Poster about hazardous dust in the workplace - Dust in construction
- Webinar on silica safety in construction
- Safety checklist for site supervisors and principal contractors – Silica safety in construction
Solar panel (rooftop) installation
You must use fall protection when installing solar, even on a one story house. Harness-based systems should only be used if roof edge protection or scaffolding can't be installed.
The Asbestos Awareness for Solar Installers course is now available for free.
This 1 hour online course is designed for installers of solar panels and will help you to identify asbestos and understand its health risks.
Useful resources include:
Rooftop solar safety: how to manage the risk of falls
Solar safety - How to manage electrical risks
Traffic management
Separating workers from mobile plant and vehicles is part of an employer's duty to provide a safe workplace on a construction site.
Moving plant and vehicles such as excavators, forklifts, utes and trucks create a risk to workers when reversing, loading and unloading. Incidents such as workers or others being hit by moving plant or vehicles can cause injury and death.
Control measures
Identify traffic hazards
- consult with workers and mobile plant operators
- determine where mobile plant and vehicles are in use
- determine potential locations and circumstances where people, plant and vehicles could collide – for example when getting off plant, when attempting to communicate with plant operators, loading zones etc.
Eliminate the risk, if possible
- if elimination isn’t possible, use bollards, barriers, safety rails or exclusion zones to separate people and workers from moving plant and vehicles
- use signals to warn people of moving plant – for example reversing alarm, flashing lights, proximity sensors
- plan the site layout to minimise plant and vehicle hazards – for example have drive-through access to minimise reversing, or situate loading areas close to storage areas
- establish traffic flow patterns, develop right of way procedures, use signs and speed limits
- have dedicated traffic controllers who are trained
- restrict access by workers and others
- have a mobile phone and device usage policy
- ensure worker wear high-visibility garments
Document procedures
Document procedures in a traffic management plan or vehicle management plan.
Train, instruct and supervise workers
Train, instruct and supervise your workers on the traffic/vehicle management plan and control measures.
If you are carrying out construction work near a public road, PCBUs should also contact the relevant road authority for specific traffic management requirements and guidelines.
If you want to do traffic control work, implement a traffic control plan or prepare a work zone traffic management plan, you need a Traffic Control Work Training card.
A PCBU must ensure workers who undertake traffic control work hold the required current certification.
Resources
Codes of practice
Safety alerts
- Uncontrolled movement of vehicles – SafeWork NSW
- Heavy vehicles or trailers hitting or crushing workers – SafeWork NSW
Safety animations
Checklists
- Self-assessment checklist safety around moving plant (PDF, 171.08 KB) – SafeWork NSW
- Earthmoving plant in construction safety checklist (PDF, 669.46 KB) – SafeWork NSW
Find more information about moving plant and forklifts.
Safe Work Australia resources
- Traffic Management Guide: Construction work – Safe Work Australia
- Traffic Hazards Checklist – Safe Work Australia
- Traffic control measures checklist – Safe Work Australia
- Traffic Management information sheet – Safe Work Australia
Related information
Safety around vehicles
- Traffic management guide for truck drivers (PDF, 76.41 KB) can help identify traffic management safety issues at sites where you deliver or pick up. If safety issues are identified, please raise them in accordance with your company’s consultation policies and procedures – SafeWork NSW
- Safety around your vehicle glove box guide – SafeWork NSW
- Safety around your vehicle self-assessment checklist (PDF, 166.32 KB) – SafeWork NSW
Find more information about the Transport, postal and warehousing industry.
Women in construction
Women working in the construction industry can be exposed to a different set of risks to others on site. It is important to know where to find support and how to best support female workers.
The NSW Government is taking active steps to make the construction industry a more diverse, inclusive and safe workplace for everyone.
Investing $20.2 million over 3 years to attract more women into the construction industry, the government is focussed on increasing the number of women in trade and non-traditional roles.
Learn more about how the NSW Government is supporting Women in construction.
Resources for women in construction
- Understand your rights:
- Find out how to contact SafeWork NSW
- Listen to our Women in Construction SafetyCast to hear from four women who work in the construction industry
- Information on amenities can be found in the Construction work Code of Practice (PDF, 1014.41 KB)
- Download and display our women in construction safety resource flyer (PDF, 206.3 KB)
- Information for workers and employers about pregnant workers
- Learn about:
Working at heights
Most serious and fatal falls are from less than 4 metres up. WHS laws say you must protect workers from falling from one level to another – regardless of the height. You also need a safe work method statement (SWMS) for work above 2 metres. Fines may apply.
Resources
Do work safety right, at any height
- See the Working safely at heights in construction campaign page for basic safety when working on roofs, ladders and scaffold.
Codes of practice
These codes of practice provide practical guidance on how to comply with work health and safety laws, and detail effective ways to identify and manage risks.
- Managing the risk of falls in housing construction (PDF, 2296.79 KB)
- Managing the risk of falls at workplaces (PDF, 2326.56 KB)
Topics
Ladders
- Toolbox talk: Using ladders. The toolbox talk is also available in the following languages:
- Display the Work safely at any height (PDF, 2419.61 KB) poster in your workplace to promote ladder safety.
- Video: Safe use of ladders
Go to the ladders page in the A-Z hazards library
Scaffolding
- Toolbox talk: Using scaffolds (PDF, 690.33 KB). The toolbox talk is also available in the following languages:
- Download the scaffold safety checklist for site supervisors (PDF, 567.71 KB) to conduct basic checks on scaffold, voids/edges, formwork, ladders and mobile scaffs.
Go to the scaffolding page in the A-Z hazards library
Working safely on roofs
- See our temporary edge protection (roof rails) fact sheet (PDF, 2885.66 KB) if you work on roofs. The fact sheet is also available in the following languages:
- Work near overhead power lines: the basics
- Are you installing solar panels? Learn more about installing solar panels safely.
- Working at heights in construction safety checklist (PDF, 208.69 KB)
Voids
Incident animations
- Fall through void profiles an incident where a worker was seriously injured after falling through an unprotected stairwell void at a residential construction site.
- Owner builder – fall through void is based on an actual incident involving a worker falling through a void on a residential construction site.
Videos
- How to prevent falls on a construction site using temporary stairs
- How to prevent falls on a construction site using void covers
- Moving materials safely on a construction site
- How to safely install timber wall frames and guard rails on a construction site
- Webinar: working safely at heights in construction
Working environment and facilities
Keep your site safe with access to clean facilities and first aid, manage noise and changing environmental conditions and keep it secure when unattended.
Useful resources include:
- Check out our SeasonalSAFE campaign to find out how to work safely when there is extreme heat, ultra-violet radiation (UVR) and bushfire smoke.
- Code of Practice - Managing the work environment and facilities (PDF)
- Code of Practice - First aid in the workplace (PDF)
- Code of Practice - Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work (PDF)
- Code of Practice - Confined spaces (PDF)
- Checklist to help keep your site safe and secure when it is unattended
Young and at-risk workers
Workers who are new to construction or from a culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds can be more at-risk in your workplace. These workers may require additional supervision or information to work safely.
Useful resources include:
- See our young workers e-toolkit to access a range of resources that have been specifically developed to support young workers’ safety
- Download our checklist for training young workers for workplace induction training topics
- Learn what the statistics say about NSW young worker fatalities (PDF, 288.13 KB)
Related information
Workplace laws
Safety checklists
- Relocating or raising houses (PDF, 314.75 KB)
- Construction falls from heights (PDF, 208.69 KB)
- Earthmoving plant in construction (PDF, 669.46 KB)
- Electrical safety in construction (PDF, 196.38 KB)
- Formwork safety in construction
(PDF, 171 KB) - Keeping your site safe and secure when it is unattended (PDF, 1083.29 KB)
- Mobile crane safety (PDF, 166.04 KB)
- Scaffold inspection (PDF, 567.71 KB)
- Silica safety in construction (PDF, 571.4 KB)
- Solar installers safety (PDF, 227.5 KB)
- Tower crane safety (PDF, 166.44 KB)
- Training young workers (PDF, 1191.25 KB)
Toolbox talks
- Safe ladder use (PDF, 1578.26 KB)
- Safe scaffold use (PDF, 690.33 KB)
- Mentally healthy workplaces in construction (PDF, 363.35 KB)
- Silica in construction (PDF, 560.12 KB)
Evaluation reports
Codes of practice
Construction-specific
- Construction work (PDF, 1014.41 KB)
- Managing the risk of falls (PDF, 2326.56 KB)
- Managing electrical risks (PDF, 1337.36 KB)
- Managing the risks of plant in the workplace (PDF, 1987.96 KB)
- Demolition work (PDF, 668.8 KB)
- Excavation work (PDF, 4128.95 KB)
- Manage and control asbestos (PDF, 1650.55 KB)
- How to remove asbestos (PDF, 2770.66 KB)
Other relevant codes
- How to manage WHS risks (PDF, 556.72 KB)
- WHS consultation, coordination and cooperation (PDF, 635.62 KB)
- Managing noise and preventing hearing loss (PDF, 1377.23 KB)
- Hazardous manual tasks (PDF, 1499.23 KB)
- First aid in the workplace (PDF, 391.59 KB)
- Safe design of structures (PDF, 1039.8 KB)
- Managing the work environment and facilities (PDF, 422.29 KB)
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