A real-life checklist on planning a safe project

For any Project Manager, Compliance Advisor or Site Manager; safety on-site is built into any procedure or task performed on any project. Over the coming months, we will be assisting in an Amenities Upgrades Project at a shopping centre in the Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.

Our service is providing the client assistance in reviewing engaged contractors’ safety and environment documentation to be implemented on-site. This is because our client wants to keep everyone safe on site (whether it’s the contractors, store keepers or shoppers – no difference!). This service not only covers off your legal requirements – it is also the corporate social responsibility of the client.

Ensuring Safety and Compliance

Here are the key steps in reviewing any safety and environment documentation, which we will undertake are:

Plan (Desktop) – Do Contractors have the correct documentation from an adequacy perspective;

• Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs)
• Plant Risk Assessments
• Training records for all works on-site

These are a few important questions to address during the planning phase;

• Are contractors’ Job Safe Analysis (JSA) or Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) specific for the Site and Project?
• Are licenses, certificates, registrations, etc current and ensuring only appropriately inducted individuals and appropriate plant/equipment operating on-site?

Do – Now you have to identify whether the contractors are doing what they say they’re doing in the documentation (JHA, SWMS).

This should be implemented in daily toolboxes informing all site personnel on daily/weekly logistics, changes to site conditions, and that all contractors are on the ‘same page’ in terms of safety and environment.

Check – Ensuring all safety systems are in place prior to operations and that controls are being undertaken and supervised.

In general, review all systems in place to ensure that the client’s operations are being performed in accordance with its controls; this will minimise hazards on-site and identify any potential risks that may occur during operations.

Action – Are the contractors’ implementing the recommendations (where warranted) from a safety professional? Are the contractors responsive to feedback (and subsequent) any suggested changes on-site where it can make the project safer?

The Value

The documentation in the planning stage is meant to provide assurance that all contractors’ planning documentation is appropriate and encompasses the safety requirements needed in this proposed project.

A safety professional being present on-site, sends a clear message to all involved that the overarching client is serious about safety and environment. As cliché as it sounds, a safe job is a happy job!

Overall, our client gains assurance and ‘peace of mind’ that we, as the safety and environment professionals, are involved in the project thus making independent and impartial observations whilst providing advice/recommendations where necessary.