National Construction Standard declared
The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) has declared a national standard for occupational health and safety for the construction industry. The declaration of the National Standard for Construction Work [NOHSC:1016 (2005)], which takes effect on the 27 April 2005, comes after more than two years of consultations with the Commonwealth, state and territory occupational health and safety authorities, construction industry associations and unions.
Building and construction sites are amongst the most dangerous workplaces in Australia and the construction industry is one of the priority industries identified by NOHSC under the National OHS Strategy 2002–2012. The new standard requires the provision of information, consultation, planning, documentation, training and other measures to ensure occupational health and safety, and provides a nationally consistent framework for managing safety in the industry.
The completion of the standard is also consistent with recommendations contained in the Report of the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry.
NOHSC is currently developing a number of codes of practice that will complement the standard. The proposed codes will detail a national approach to the prevention of falls from height in construction work, induction training for construction workers, demolition work, and the management of risk in tilt-up and precast concrete construction work.
How to obtain a copy
Copies of the national standard may be downloaded free of charge from the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission website at:
http://www.nohsc.gov.au/OHSInformation/NOHSCPublications/
27 April 2005
Page last updated: 06/07/2008