Living on the edge?
work safety
Living on the edge? Everyone is talking about safety, but is there more talk than walk in some sectors? Sean Martin reports. With every injury that happens on a building site, the keen eye
of the powers that be focuses ever so slightly more. Safety on-site is a bigger deal now than it ever has been – and there seems to be no halt to the safety train that is trying its darndest to stop at every possible site along the way. However, there is a concern within the industry that the only people really taking safety seriously are those that are in the public eye – while others seem to be holding out until they are told to be more cautious. But, according to Karl Emslie of Edge Protection, this won’t be an issue for long: “Sooner or later everyone is going to have to be on the same level playing field. At the moment the industry is sort of selfregulating in the sense that if you’re a builder and you’ve been told [to use more safety] and your neighbour is doing nothing while you are doing everything right, then you are likely to ring up and dob
40
nzhj | June 2013
them in and that’s what we’re finding is happening right across the board at the moment. “It’s unfair for someone to have to spend a huge amount of money on Edge Protection products, for example, when the guy next door is doing nothing and as a result is building his house cheaper.” IS IT SAFETY FOR ALL? “There are still plenty of people out there who are doing nothing,” is one of the grumbles coming from the industry when it comes to actioning safety issues. Does this, coupled with the opinion that people are waiting to be told, equate to a situation where the regulators need to be a bit more forceful in their approach? Karl Emslie doesn’t think so: “What they do need to do is be more forthcoming with practical solutions. Basically what they’re doing is giving us a problem, but they’re not really prepared to offer a practical solution so it’s up to us as an industry to solve the problem ourselves.” Issues with inconsistencies with inspectors in different areas have also arisen. It’s all well and good having many guidelines to follow that will ultimately create a safer working environment, but the real problem is sourcing the correct information. “They’re giving us a problem, [but] we have to solve it ourselves, and if it’s not deemed by the individual inspector to be the right step then they will come More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
work safety
Leading causes of building industry injury The graph below shows the leading causes of fatal and serious harm injuries in the construction sector. The leading cause for serious harm injuries is being hit by a moving object, while the leading
cause of fatal injuries is a fall from height, hence the MBIE’s ongoing crusade into safe working at height practices. www.dol.govt.nz
25%
20%
Serious harm injuries Fatal injuries
15%
10%
5%
down on us reasonably hard so I think the fear of reprisals is having the desired effect and they are fining builders who show noncompliance!” says Emslie. Basically, some tradespeople are trying to become compliant to the regulations in a non-compliant manner, but this false sense of security could be even more dangerous for the people on-site: “We have to have safeguards in place but if the safeguard that is employed on-site isn’t up to scratch, then you’re asking for trouble. If there’s nothing on the edge, you’d be very careful, however, if you’ve got something in place that’s not compliant, that is, as far as I’m concerned, a false sense of security at height,” says Emslie.
Stat Bei iona ng t ry a rapp nd m ed B ovin etwe g ob en jects
g Bein (notg hit by else mov whe ing re cl obje assifi cts ed) Bein g tra ppe d by mac moving hine ry Falls on t he s am tripse level, , stu slips mbl , es Cont act w ith E lectr icity
y str essin Bod
bjec ng o falli t by g hi Bein
Hitt ing part object of th s wit e bo h dy stat Bei iona ng t ry a rapp nd m ed b ovin etwe g ob en jects
ts
p r Sli Fall Trip O
ight a he from Falls
Bein
g hi
t by
mov
ing
obje
cts
0%
IS THE RIGHT INFORMATION OUT THERE? It’s important for the trade to get the right information around issues like safety. But issues like this are complex and there have been calls for regulators to make the rules simpler to digest, even going so far as to say that a plain English style booklet would do the trick. Suppliers are trying to get their own message out there, but they cannot make tradespeople follow the rules and sometimes the message takes time to filter down the industry. Deborah Allan, Skellerup’s Marketing Executive, agrees: “It’s taken a while to build awareness of Quatro Safety [boots] in the marketplace but what we’re finding is that plumbers, builders, industrial site workers and
BACKED BY ADVANCED GUMBOOT-OLOGY. For over 70 years Skellerup has manufactured superior handbuilt rubber boots for the world’s harshest conditions. our expertise, and the latest technologies, have resulted in the new Quatro™ Safety. Quatro™ Safety the boot of choice for those looking for all-day comfort, performance and safety.
More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
Q U A T R O™ SAFETY HIGH SPEC. PROTECTION & PERFORMANCE.
www.skellerupfootwear.co.nz
June 2013 | nzhj
41
work safety
Doing nothing not an option – MBIE cracks down Between July and November last year, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) had to shut down 385 residential construction sites for poor height safety work practices. “We visited 760 workplaces in our first enforcement phase of the Preventing Falls from Height Project, and I am very concerned at the level of non-compliance, and the dangers workers face on these sites,” says Project Team Leader, Marcus Nalter. Nalter goes on to say that the MBIE is taking a tough stance on those who are non-compliant and that this should be “a huge wake-up call to anyone continuing to work unsafely at height.” Half of the sites visited required unsafe work at height practices to be stopped and remedied. Over 160 written warnings were issued, which require immediate remedial action to be taken while the health and safety inspector is present. “There’s no excuse for the huge amount of unsafe work sites we have uncovered. Doing nothing is not an option,” says Nalter. www.dol.govt.nz
Chainsaw safety – casual users most at risk STIHL’s Chainsaw Safety Awareness Week ran for the sixth year between 13-19 May and this year St John was working with STIHL to keep safety top of mind, particularly among casual users. St John and STIHL say the lack of safety gear worn by the occasional user remains a major ongoing issue and have been urging consumers to invest in their own safety when buying a new chainsaw with the additional purchase of chainsaw chaps, protective glasses and ear muffs. A portion of all Special Edition STIHL Safety Pack sales sold during the week went towards St John. St John Clinical Director, Dr Tony Smith, says it is great to see businesses like STIHL spearheading preventative campaigns like Chainsaw Safety Awareness Week:“We know first-hand the outcome of irresponsible chainsaw usage and it’s horrible, so it’s positive to see companies like STIHL helping to educate Kiwis on correct chainsaw use so that these incidents can be prevented. It’s not just about getting the ambulance to the scene afterwards.” www.stihl.co.nz
PROTECT YOUR HANDS STOP VIBRATION PROFLEX® 9000 CERTIFIED LIGHTWEIGHT ANTI-VIBRATION GLOVE
Fonterra employees have picked them up.” Are people bypassing safety? Allan, who applied this question to Skellerup’s range of Quatro Safety footwear, believes that this is the case: “In some instances yes, but that’s probably more of a financial decision than a safety and comfort consideration. It’s one of the challenges we face.
“We have to have safeguards in place but if the safeguard that is employed on-site isn’t up to scratch, then you’re asking for trouble” ANSI S2.73/ISO 10819:1996/EN 388/EN 420 Certified • •
Unique chloroprene • rubber palm pad • Lightweight & breathable
Dexterity & flexibility Elastic cuff for secure fit
Contact us today
09 274 7365
[email protected]
42
nzhj | June 2013
ISL 9000 Glove Ad.indd 1
Scan here to visit us on the web
“It’s an education process and we’ve run a number of national advertising campaigns to build awareness of the comfort and performance of Quatro. The key is getting them on people’s feet – once you’ve experienced the warmth and comfort you won’t go back.” It’s no secret that the regulations and the guidelines are becoming stricter. In the process of researching this article, I got the impression that not only will this be beneficial to the industry as a matter of safety, but it will also benefit it in a financial sense.
17/05/13 7:18 AM
More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
work safety
DHY – Don’t Hurt Yourself Although there is high interest in increasing safety in the building industry, it sounds like it’s the home or casual user who’s just as much if not more at risk. In 2011, ACC estimates there were approximately 52,000 claims as a result of DIY, home maintenance and gardening activity, and the cost of these claims to the country was more than $37 million. The most common types of DIY injuries were soft tissue injuries such as bruising, strains or sprains, which made up over half of all the estimated DIY injuries in 2010. The next most common types of injuries were lacerations, puncture wounds and stings which accounted for another quarter of these injuries. In 2010, men were responsible for more than 80% of estimated DIY claims, with most of these claims lodged by men aged 45- 64. www.acc.co.nz
MiTek makes it safe Last year, MiTek set about designing, testing and developing a new range of BOWMAC components compliant with the Best Practice Guideline for Scaffolding in New Zealand and AS/NZS 1576.1:2010 and AS/NZS 4994.1:2009 standards. The BOWMAC Roof Edge Protection & Working Platform Scaffold System is designed not only to create a safer construction site by eliminating, minimising or isolating hazards and injury resulting from roof falls, but it also provides a certified, purpose-designed system which delivers excellent access and real site efficiency, says MiTek. Manufactured in New Zealand, the system is fully tested and compliant with static load and dynamic load testing standards. It’s a tough, no-nonsense, electro galvanised steel system consisting of just six bracket, post and safety rail components which means it is compact, easy to store and transport. It’s also easy to install. There are no posts to the ground and because the brackets screw on to the frame of the building under construction, they are suspended off the ground. That means access underneath is free and easy for other trades or machinery to continue working at ground level. www.miteknz.co.nz
Roof Edge Protection and Working Platforms Easily erected on building sites regardless of ground terrain
No vertical support posts to restrict accessibility and construction around the site New Zealand-made steel components for durability and reliable performance Packs down into compact volume for transportation and storage Accommodates a range of roof pitch and overhangs while maintaining required safety standards Available from leading Building Supply Merchants throughout New Zealand
For more information visit: www.miteknz.co.nz 44
nzhj | June 2013
More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
Living on the edge? Everyone is talking about safety, but is there more talk than walk in some sectors? Sean Martin reports. With every injury that happens on a building site, the keen eye
of the powers that be focuses ever so slightly more. Safety on-site is a bigger deal now than it ever has been – and there seems to be no halt to the safety train that is trying its darndest to stop at every possible site along the way. However, there is a concern within the industry that the only people really taking safety seriously are those that are in the public eye – while others seem to be holding out until they are told to be more cautious. But, according to Karl Emslie of Edge Protection, this won’t be an issue for long: “Sooner or later everyone is going to have to be on the same level playing field. At the moment the industry is sort of selfregulating in the sense that if you’re a builder and you’ve been told [to use more safety] and your neighbour is doing nothing while you are doing everything right, then you are likely to ring up and dob
40
nzhj | June 2013
them in and that’s what we’re finding is happening right across the board at the moment. “It’s unfair for someone to have to spend a huge amount of money on Edge Protection products, for example, when the guy next door is doing nothing and as a result is building his house cheaper.” IS IT SAFETY FOR ALL? “There are still plenty of people out there who are doing nothing,” is one of the grumbles coming from the industry when it comes to actioning safety issues. Does this, coupled with the opinion that people are waiting to be told, equate to a situation where the regulators need to be a bit more forceful in their approach? Karl Emslie doesn’t think so: “What they do need to do is be more forthcoming with practical solutions. Basically what they’re doing is giving us a problem, but they’re not really prepared to offer a practical solution so it’s up to us as an industry to solve the problem ourselves.” Issues with inconsistencies with inspectors in different areas have also arisen. It’s all well and good having many guidelines to follow that will ultimately create a safer working environment, but the real problem is sourcing the correct information. “They’re giving us a problem, [but] we have to solve it ourselves, and if it’s not deemed by the individual inspector to be the right step then they will come More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
work safety
Leading causes of building industry injury The graph below shows the leading causes of fatal and serious harm injuries in the construction sector. The leading cause for serious harm injuries is being hit by a moving object, while the leading
cause of fatal injuries is a fall from height, hence the MBIE’s ongoing crusade into safe working at height practices. www.dol.govt.nz
25%
20%
Serious harm injuries Fatal injuries
15%
10%
5%
down on us reasonably hard so I think the fear of reprisals is having the desired effect and they are fining builders who show noncompliance!” says Emslie. Basically, some tradespeople are trying to become compliant to the regulations in a non-compliant manner, but this false sense of security could be even more dangerous for the people on-site: “We have to have safeguards in place but if the safeguard that is employed on-site isn’t up to scratch, then you’re asking for trouble. If there’s nothing on the edge, you’d be very careful, however, if you’ve got something in place that’s not compliant, that is, as far as I’m concerned, a false sense of security at height,” says Emslie.
Stat Bei iona ng t ry a rapp nd m ed B ovin etwe g ob en jects
g Bein (notg hit by else mov whe ing re cl obje assifi cts ed) Bein g tra ppe d by mac moving hine ry Falls on t he s am tripse level, , stu slips mbl , es Cont act w ith E lectr icity
y str essin Bod
bjec ng o falli t by g hi Bein
Hitt ing part object of th s wit e bo h dy stat Bei iona ng t ry a rapp nd m ed b ovin etwe g ob en jects
ts
p r Sli Fall Trip O
ight a he from Falls
Bein
g hi
t by
mov
ing
obje
cts
0%
IS THE RIGHT INFORMATION OUT THERE? It’s important for the trade to get the right information around issues like safety. But issues like this are complex and there have been calls for regulators to make the rules simpler to digest, even going so far as to say that a plain English style booklet would do the trick. Suppliers are trying to get their own message out there, but they cannot make tradespeople follow the rules and sometimes the message takes time to filter down the industry. Deborah Allan, Skellerup’s Marketing Executive, agrees: “It’s taken a while to build awareness of Quatro Safety [boots] in the marketplace but what we’re finding is that plumbers, builders, industrial site workers and
BACKED BY ADVANCED GUMBOOT-OLOGY. For over 70 years Skellerup has manufactured superior handbuilt rubber boots for the world’s harshest conditions. our expertise, and the latest technologies, have resulted in the new Quatro™ Safety. Quatro™ Safety the boot of choice for those looking for all-day comfort, performance and safety.
More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
Q U A T R O™ SAFETY HIGH SPEC. PROTECTION & PERFORMANCE.
www.skellerupfootwear.co.nz
June 2013 | nzhj
41
work safety
Doing nothing not an option – MBIE cracks down Between July and November last year, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) had to shut down 385 residential construction sites for poor height safety work practices. “We visited 760 workplaces in our first enforcement phase of the Preventing Falls from Height Project, and I am very concerned at the level of non-compliance, and the dangers workers face on these sites,” says Project Team Leader, Marcus Nalter. Nalter goes on to say that the MBIE is taking a tough stance on those who are non-compliant and that this should be “a huge wake-up call to anyone continuing to work unsafely at height.” Half of the sites visited required unsafe work at height practices to be stopped and remedied. Over 160 written warnings were issued, which require immediate remedial action to be taken while the health and safety inspector is present. “There’s no excuse for the huge amount of unsafe work sites we have uncovered. Doing nothing is not an option,” says Nalter. www.dol.govt.nz
Chainsaw safety – casual users most at risk STIHL’s Chainsaw Safety Awareness Week ran for the sixth year between 13-19 May and this year St John was working with STIHL to keep safety top of mind, particularly among casual users. St John and STIHL say the lack of safety gear worn by the occasional user remains a major ongoing issue and have been urging consumers to invest in their own safety when buying a new chainsaw with the additional purchase of chainsaw chaps, protective glasses and ear muffs. A portion of all Special Edition STIHL Safety Pack sales sold during the week went towards St John. St John Clinical Director, Dr Tony Smith, says it is great to see businesses like STIHL spearheading preventative campaigns like Chainsaw Safety Awareness Week:“We know first-hand the outcome of irresponsible chainsaw usage and it’s horrible, so it’s positive to see companies like STIHL helping to educate Kiwis on correct chainsaw use so that these incidents can be prevented. It’s not just about getting the ambulance to the scene afterwards.” www.stihl.co.nz
PROTECT YOUR HANDS STOP VIBRATION PROFLEX® 9000 CERTIFIED LIGHTWEIGHT ANTI-VIBRATION GLOVE
Fonterra employees have picked them up.” Are people bypassing safety? Allan, who applied this question to Skellerup’s range of Quatro Safety footwear, believes that this is the case: “In some instances yes, but that’s probably more of a financial decision than a safety and comfort consideration. It’s one of the challenges we face.
“We have to have safeguards in place but if the safeguard that is employed on-site isn’t up to scratch, then you’re asking for trouble” ANSI S2.73/ISO 10819:1996/EN 388/EN 420 Certified • •
Unique chloroprene • rubber palm pad • Lightweight & breathable
Dexterity & flexibility Elastic cuff for secure fit
Contact us today
09 274 7365
[email protected]
42
nzhj | June 2013
ISL 9000 Glove Ad.indd 1
Scan here to visit us on the web
“It’s an education process and we’ve run a number of national advertising campaigns to build awareness of the comfort and performance of Quatro. The key is getting them on people’s feet – once you’ve experienced the warmth and comfort you won’t go back.” It’s no secret that the regulations and the guidelines are becoming stricter. In the process of researching this article, I got the impression that not only will this be beneficial to the industry as a matter of safety, but it will also benefit it in a financial sense.
17/05/13 7:18 AM
More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
work safety
DHY – Don’t Hurt Yourself Although there is high interest in increasing safety in the building industry, it sounds like it’s the home or casual user who’s just as much if not more at risk. In 2011, ACC estimates there were approximately 52,000 claims as a result of DIY, home maintenance and gardening activity, and the cost of these claims to the country was more than $37 million. The most common types of DIY injuries were soft tissue injuries such as bruising, strains or sprains, which made up over half of all the estimated DIY injuries in 2010. The next most common types of injuries were lacerations, puncture wounds and stings which accounted for another quarter of these injuries. In 2010, men were responsible for more than 80% of estimated DIY claims, with most of these claims lodged by men aged 45- 64. www.acc.co.nz
MiTek makes it safe Last year, MiTek set about designing, testing and developing a new range of BOWMAC components compliant with the Best Practice Guideline for Scaffolding in New Zealand and AS/NZS 1576.1:2010 and AS/NZS 4994.1:2009 standards. The BOWMAC Roof Edge Protection & Working Platform Scaffold System is designed not only to create a safer construction site by eliminating, minimising or isolating hazards and injury resulting from roof falls, but it also provides a certified, purpose-designed system which delivers excellent access and real site efficiency, says MiTek. Manufactured in New Zealand, the system is fully tested and compliant with static load and dynamic load testing standards. It’s a tough, no-nonsense, electro galvanised steel system consisting of just six bracket, post and safety rail components which means it is compact, easy to store and transport. It’s also easy to install. There are no posts to the ground and because the brackets screw on to the frame of the building under construction, they are suspended off the ground. That means access underneath is free and easy for other trades or machinery to continue working at ground level. www.miteknz.co.nz
Roof Edge Protection and Working Platforms Easily erected on building sites regardless of ground terrain
No vertical support posts to restrict accessibility and construction around the site New Zealand-made steel components for durability and reliable performance Packs down into compact volume for transportation and storage Accommodates a range of roof pitch and overhangs while maintaining required safety standards Available from leading Building Supply Merchants throughout New Zealand
For more information visit: www.miteknz.co.nz 44
nzhj | June 2013
More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
