Summary

The National Code of Practice for Precast, Tilt-up and Concrete Elements in Building Construction (the National Concrete Code) was declared by the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) on 27 February 2008 pursuant to Section 4 of the Australian Workplace Safety Standards Act 2005 (Commonwealth) and provides practical guidance and recommendations to employers and employees involved in the handling of precast, tilt-up and concrete elements in the construction industry.

Background

By way of background, on 27 April 2005, the National Standard for Construction Work (the National Standard) was declared as part of a nationalised occupational health & safety framework. The National Standard provides for the protection of persons from hazards associated with construction work and requires the provision of information, consultation, planning, documentation, training and other measures to ensure workplace health & safety. High risk construction work, as defined in the National Standard, includes tilt up and precast concrete construction work.

The National Concrete Code has been developed to complement the National Standard, to set out industry-wide guidelines and provide practical guidance for employers and employees to effectively manage the risks associated with handling concrete elements and thereby establish and maintain a safe working environment wherever concrete elements are used in the construction industry.

The National Code was developed in consultation with a technical group established by the ASCC which comprised representatives from Australian State and Territory governments and industry and union representatives and draws together best practice from Australian State and Territory occupational health & safety authorities into a framework to promote a nationally uniform approach to the management of the hazards and related risks in the safe handling of concrete elements in construction work.

The National Concrete Code is just one of a number of national standards and guidelines that have been and are continuing to be developed as part of a nationalised occupational health & safety framework.

Compliance

Until adoption by the states and territories, the National Concrete Code is a source of guidance and an advisory instrument. It is, however, anticipated that these guidelines will be implemented by states and territories within two years.

It should be noted that compliance with the guidelines and recommendations of the National Concrete Code will not necessarily mean that persons have fulfilled their respective occupational health & safety obligations.

Application

The National Concrete Code applies to:

• concrete elements
• used in the course of building construction, and
• includes wall panels, precast concrete beams, columns and slabs and precast service cores such as lift shafts and stair cores.

The National Concrete Code does not apply to:

• concrete pipes, bridge beams, or culverts, or
• any other form of construction work other than building construction.

Responsibilities

Clients

Clients have the responsibility to consult with designers and builders to ensure that safety matters are considered in aspects of the design work for all concrete construction work.

Designers

Designers are responsible for structural, handling, transport and erection design phases. To the extent a designer has control over the design, principal responsibilities include:

• responsibility to ensure that any risks to the health and safety of any person that result from the design are identified and eliminated , or where that is not possible, minimised.
• where there have been several stages of design undertaken by individual designers, each designer has responsibility for the stage over which they have control and in those circumstances designers must consult on the health and safety implications of the design, and
• provide to the client or person with control written information relating to the design including:

Person with control of the construction project or construction work

The National Concrete Code provides broad guidance to persons with control of a construction project or control of construction work to:

• protect the health and safety of any persons who may be affected by the construction work
• ensure that all hazards are identified
• ensure information relating to hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control process is compiled and recorded
• provide Safe Work Method Statements
• ensure compliance with Safe Work Method Statements
• provide work plan and/or OHS Management Plan
• provide OHS training, and
• ensure all persons engaged in concrete element construction work are consulted and involved in hazard identification, assessment of risks and methods used to control those risks.

Persons engaged to carry out construction work

The guidelines provide for those engaged to carry out construction work to:

• protect their own health and safety, and
• take reasonable care to ensure that their actions do not harm or place others at risk.

Guidelines

The National Concrete Code provides detailed guidance on:

• risk management processes and procedures
• safe design
• handling, storage and transportation
• on-site prefabrication
• erection, and
• demolition.

Implications

Owners

Whilst the National Concrete Code remains to be adopted, it is good practice for owners to ensure that contractual arrangements with any contractor and/or designer provide satisfactory protection in respect of compliance with the National Concrete Code recommendations and guiding principles in addition to standard provisions regarding the discharge of statutory health & safety obligations. Contractual arrangements may include indemnities for any act, omission, breach or default of the relevant guidelines or other contractual rights such as suspension of works.

Contractors/designers

Both contractors and designers must ensure they are familiar with the practical guidance and recommendations of the National Concrete Code in addition to their statutory obligations.

Contractors and designers should ensure that any subcontract contains back to back provisions in respect of compliance with the National Concrete Code recommendations and guiding principles and compliance with health & safety plans and procedures.