OHS REPS @ WORK

Construction safety online resources

1 - Victorian unions with OHS information on their websites:

• CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union) - Construction and General Division. From the division's OHS webpage reps can download hazard alerts, checkllists and more. The NSW branch of the CFMEU also has a number of Alerts that can be downloaded from its OHS webpage.
• CEPU - ETU (Electrical Trades Union - a division of the CEPU) - click on OHS on the union's homepage and then choose from the newsletter, OHS Alerts, News, Policies or the OHS manual.
• AMWU (Australian Manufacturing Workers Union) covers maintenance workers. On the union's OHS webpage you will find Alerts, OHS news, the OHS Manual for OHS Reps, and more.
• CEPU - Plumbers' Division - has hazard alerts, fact sheets, information on courses on its OHS page.

2 - WorkSafe Victoria has an industry webpage on Construction and Utilities. Go to it for alerts, guidance material, checklists and other publications, information on their programs and much more.

3 - The Paintsafe website has been developed in cooperation between CFMEU and the Master Painters Association to provide practical advice to the painting industry relating to Occupation Health and Safety matters. Resources include FAQs, products tested and much more.

4 - Also worth a look is the Construction Industry page on WorkSafe WA website

5 - Building Commission Victoria website Pulse - a resource useful data about building activity and building permits throughout Victoria.

6 - The Center to Protect Workers' Rights (CPWR website) is a union-backed US construction safety research and training group. It has recently relaunched its website. The new look site provides useful hazards alerts in English and Spanish and details of a quite extensive research programme.  The site complements a CPWR-maintained electronic library on construction health and safety, eLCOSH.

The Construction Chart Book  - published by the CPWR this provides information on all facets of the US construction industry, including health and safety issues. The coverage goes beyond that in previous editions, with additions including topics such as the total cost of injuries and illnesses to the construction industry, the use of health care services among construction workers, expanded reporting of blood lead levels in construction workers, chronic illnesses and health risks and respiratory diseases. The publication is a useful resource for construction unions anywhere, giving a well-structured and detailed overview of major issues facing site workers wherever you find them.
The Construction Chart Book: The US construction industry and its workers, 4th edition, 2008. Health and safety chapter

7 - Subsites of WorkSafe British Colombia (Canada):

• Injury Prevention Resources for Construction - checklists and other resources for the construction industry.
• Construction Safety Resource site: witha collection of documentation and resources to assist in the formulation ofsafety programs. It has been created in response to the current Canadian building boom and impending Olympics activity, combined with the significant influx of an untrained or inexperienced workforce.

• Construction
  The HSE has a new web site based tool to help contractors understand and manage occupational health risks more effectively. The tool is called the Construction Occupational Health Management Essentials (COHME ).
  
  According to the HSE, COHME is describes a framework to manage occupational health risks in general. COHME is intended to assist clients, designers and contractors and deals with 7 priority risks:
  
  
  • Hand-arm vibration;
    
  • Musculo-skeletal disorders;
  • Dermatitis;
  • Noise;
  • Stress;
  • Respiratory disease; and
  • Asbestos
  
  COHME contains examples, case studies and links to 3rd party websites. COHME also provides guidance on important matters like Safety-Critical Work, Health Surveillance and obtaining Expert Help.
  
  
• Concrete
• Woodworking: Help and advice on the key risks in woodworking including; dust, machinery, and slips and trips.

Useful materials

1 - From WorkSafe Victoria, a number of checklists for builders and building trades contractors:

• Accidents & Incidents Checklist
• Public Safety Checklist
• Scaffolding Checklist
• Site Establishment Checklist
• Bracket Scaffold Checklist
• Hiring out construction plant & equipment checklist