NT WorkSafe recently issued a safety alert highlighting the dangers of unguarded voids (also known as penetrations) on construction sites and the requirement to manage the risk of falls following a number of serious incidents.

Falling through unguarded voids is a contributing factor to a number of serious injuries and deaths in the construction industry, and three serious incidents have occurred in the past four years on Territory construction sites due to unguarded voids.

In the first incident, a 19-year-old worker broke his leg after falling approximately 2.9 metres through a void at a residential construction site.

NT WorkSafe charged the two companies involved.

In the second incident, a 31-year-old worker fell 3 metres through a void onto concrete during asbestos removal at a Darwin school.

The worker suffered fractures to his shoulder and spine and was unable to work for over a year.

NT WorkSafe charged the principal contractor of the worksite and the worker’s employer over the incident.

In the third incident, a 60-year-old worker died after falling over 3 metres through a void onto concrete.

The incident, which occurred at a residential construction site in the suburb of Bayview, is currently under investigation.

The safety alert subsequently recommended a number of required actions:

• All duty holders must ensure that a safe work method statement (SWMS) is prepared, as required for high-risk construction work.
• The SWMS must eliminate the risk of falls during construction, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks as far as reasonably practicable.
• All workers, including sub-contractors on-site, must understand and work in accordance with the SWMS, including understanding the fall protection systems in place, and the procedures to follow if a change needs to be made to the fall protection system.
• Voids on construction sites must be made safe immediately after being formed. Voids can include openings for stairwells or partially completed floors.
• Covering the void may eliminate the risk of falling, provided the void cover:
• • is made of material strong enough to withstand the likely impact of any person falling onto it;
  • can bear the weight of any static loads expected in the area of the void;
  • is fixed in place to prevent accidental dislodgement or removal, and
  • has appropriate signage to indicate there is a void underneath.
• If the building being constructed has concrete floors, consider using cast-in safety mesh during the concrete pour to cover the voids.
• • If safety mesh is used, the mesh must be strong enough to withstand the likely impact of any person falling onto it. The safety mesh can be cut out at a later date.
• If covering the void is not practical, barriers such as perimeter guardrails or fall protection devices like scaffolding or safety nets must be used to minimise the risk of falls.
• Refer to the Code of Practice for managing the risk of falls in housing construction for additional practical guidance to manage the risks of falls on residential construction.

Original article from AIH&S