What are the Benefits of a Construction Job?

It isn’t just young people considering whether to embark on a career in construction. Even some more seasoned in the working world are now weighing the pros and cons of the industry, as the booming market tempts people to make a change.

But what would you benefit?

Well most construction workers love the excitement of a buzzing, productive environment and seeing the actual fruits of your labour when the project is completed. Others love the innovative designs, modern equipment being used (such as drones and exoskeletons) as well as ever improving techniques to create bigger, better and safer buildings.

Other benefits to consider:

  • When you work within construction industry you will be a member of a very important team and you will be making a difference to your community, building it up for future generations.
  • Nothing can compare to the job satisfaction that comes from knowing your work will stand for many decades, and be used and enjoyed by numerous people.
  • If you live in Australia another major benefit is the fact that construction sites in our nation are among the safest in the world. Australian construction sites are forced to abide by strict standards which dictate that employers provide a safe work environment and a safe system of work to their employees.
  • Another reason construction workers in Australia are better off than their counterparts in some other countries is because Construction Safety Training is a mandatory requirement. Everyone who enters the industry has to complete a White Card course, either in person at a training institute or online with a Registered Training Provider. This ensures that everyone who walks onto the construction site for work, has at least a basic safety knowledge.
  • Workers who begin as apprentices in their trades can find themselves making it up the ladder quickly, with many planning on opening their own businesses in the future. Much of the work in this field is subcontracted which makes the opportunity to be your own boss a possibility.
  • The current skills shortage in the construction sector is another major benefit. Employers are seeking people skilled in all the construction trades as well as professionals such as architects, engineers etc. The Department of Employment has created a number of Occupational reports on the construction trades for each state which indicate that shortages are rife in most fields in all states.
apprentice
Source: Sourceable.net

Another major benefit of construction is that it allows you to travel. Many construction workers travel around and even across borders as projects are completed and new ones arise. Because the White Card issued by us online is nationally recognised, once you complete the course with us you can use your White Card as proof of having completed general construction safety training anywhere in the country.

 

Company Pleads Guilty over Wayne Vickery Death

wayne vickery
Caption: Wayne Vickery killed on a worksite in 2011.
Source: CanberraTimes.com.au

The Canberra construction company that employed Wayne Vickery, a construction worker killed in a 2011 grader accident, has now pleaded guilty  to safety failings which resulted in the fatal incident.

The 45 year old worker was killed on a Macgregor site belonging to Canberra Contractors Pty Ltd.

Mr Vickery was described as a construction veteran who had been crouching down to check ground levels while building roads in a new residential housing estate when a grader reversed into him.

The company initially planned to fight the charges but changed their plea to guilty earlier this month.

Read more here.

Employer Fined for Yet another Apprentice Injury

Another builder has been fined in Everton Hills, Queensland for not fulfilling OHS regulations in providing a safe work environment and safe system of work for employees following an incident that left an apprentice unconscious after falling over 4 metres.

The company was fined $30,000 after pleading guilty to breaching section 24 (1) of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.The apprentice suffered cuts to the head, knee and a concussion thereafter becoming unconscious. Upon investigation it was discovered that the apprentice removed the edge protection before he fell but the apprentice had not been trained or given any information about safety which made the employer liable.

Read what a post on SafetyCulture.com.au had to say about the incident:

queensland_government_logo_transparent1-300x124The builder pleaded guilty to breaching section 24(1) of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, having failed to ensure workplace safety in the Pine Rivers Industrial Magistrates Court.

The investigation by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland discovered that the builder who had used a specialist to install edge protection at the construction site had in fact removed the edge protection himself.

It was presented to the court that there had been no training or safety information given to the apprentice about the removal of edge protection which he had been seen doing prior to the fall.

Stephen Guttridge, the Industrial Magistrate, handed a $30,000 fine to the building company and ordered them to pay investigation and professional costs amounting to $2020.

When he formulated the penalty Magistrate Guttridge did consider that the defendant did not have any previous convictions for health and safety breaches, had co-operated with the investigation and had entered an early guilty plea.

Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/02/queensland-builder-fined-30000-for-safety-breach/

The interesting part about this whole incident is that it highlights the emphasis that the law places on worker training. Even though the company had fulfilled their duties in having and installing edge protection, because the worker had not received safety training, they were held accountable by authorities.

Safety training is the most vital requirement for anyone in the construction industry. It is not just a matter of legality but it is also a matter of ethics, because workers who are not trained are going in completely blind to the hazards and risks that a construction site presents them.

There is no doubt that better training and commitment to safety can help combat these types of incidents, especially where inexperienced workers are concerned. Employers can facilitate a shift towards greater attention to safety on site. Employers should begin by ensuring workers are properly trained on general site safety as well as site specific safety. Providing workers with sufficient information, training and supervision in order for them to work safely on a building site is part of an employer’s duty.

Every worker that sets foot onto the site must be in possession of their White Card, it is their passport onto a construction site. It will equip workers with the knowledge and skills needed to keep them safe on a construction site with the focus on general hazards that they may face.

 

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland Alert

Operating Cranes and Plant near Overhead Electric Lines

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has issued an alert aimed to assist employers and operators of the dangers associated with operating plant and cranes near overhead powerlines.

This post by SafetyCulture.com describes the alert in detail:

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has issued an alert regarding contact with overhead electric lines when operating a crane or other plant.

 It is a risky scenario as as it can be extremely difficult for crane or plant operators to see or judge distances from them.

 Actual contact with the lines is not needed to deliver an electric shock, as a close approach to the line conductors may cause a ‘flashover’ or arc.

 Before operating a crane or item of mobile plant, a worksite inspection should be conducted to identify potential hazards such as overhead electric lines or other electrical equipment. A risk assessment should include:

 the location and voltage of the overhead electric lines

 the nature, size and shape of the load to be moved

 the setting up and packing up processes

 the type of crane, mobile plant, machinery and equipment used and its design envelope

 the stability of crane or mobile plant and suspended loads

 site conditions, including unexpected movement of the terrain, ground or surface upon which the crane or plant is located

 the prevailing and unexpected wind strength and direction and weather conditions

 the qualifications, competency, skill and experience of people doing the work

 traffic or pedestrians that could interfere with the work

 the minimum clearance distance from the closest part of the crane or other operating plant to the electric line

 whether the load is being carried above the electric lines and may accidentally fall onto the energised lines

 the possibility of sway and sag of the overhead electric lines

 the possibility of the crane or plant becoming energised through voltage induced by adjacent electric lines, especially high voltage lines

 how the load being carried by a crane is secured and whether any part of the load may inadvertently move during the operation and encroach on the authorised person zone

 the potential for inadvertent movement of the crane or mobile plant, the load, people and electrical equipment in the area

 the functional behaviour of the crane, load or plant that could result in inadvertent contact with overhead electric lines.

 Electric lines should always be treated as energised unless the operator of the crane or mobile plant has received an access authority or other form of written documentation from the electricity supply authority which allows people to work within the no-go zone.

Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/07/safety-alert-for-operating-cranes-near-overhead-electrical-lines/

Contact with overhead powerlines can pose a serious risk of electrocution when operating a crane or other plant because of the difficulty they experience judging the distance between the crane and the powerlines overhead.

Workers on a construction site, whether working with plant and machinery or not will encounter this equipment at some time or the other due to their prevalence on site. It is difficult to imagine a construction without plant or machinery, especially commercial sites. Therefore it is important for uncertified persons who have not been trained in crane operation to be aware of safety procedures for plant and machinery. These plant and machinery include cranes, concrete booms, elevating work platforms, earthmoving equipment etc.

In order to manage the risk involved with operation of plant and machinery, first these risks need to be identified. An inspection to identify the risk involved with setting up cranes or other equipment in the vicinity of power lines should be carried out. The crane or machinery operator should be included in the risk identification process together with the employer.

When working with power lines overhead, authorities suggest you treat all electric power lines as live and either have them de-energised or create an exclusion zone around them and keep workers out. De-energising power lines should only be done once arrangements have been made with electricity authorities during the planning stages.

Once the risks have been identified, the employer should conduct a written assessment of the risk and it’s potential for harm.

By following the appropriate measures, employers and operators can reduce the number of operator injuries and deaths that occur each year as a result of contact with overhead powerlines.

Posted by Steven Asnicar

 

White Card Update: Site Safety Management – Whose Responsibility is it?

With the large number of safety incidents that occur on construction sites in Oz each year, the question often arises whose fault was it?

Whose responsibility is it to maintain a safe construction site?

Well according to the law, EMPLOYERS have a duty to provide and maintain a safe working environment which is without risks to the workers and their health as much as possible.

Workplace Health and Safety legislation also outlines duties that employers must comply with as part of their general duty. Part of the duties of employers includes:

1. Provision and maintenance of plant and equipment and providing systems of work that do not place the workers at unreasonable and avoidable risk. This safe system of work should not present a health risk to workers on site.

2. Another duty is to make arrangements for the safe use, handling and storage or transport of plant or substances including hazardous materials.

3. Employers also have a responsibility to keep the workplace in a safe condition and provide the necessary facilities for workers welfare, such as ablution and first aid facilities.

4. A duty that employers often seem to ignore, is providing workers with information, instruction, training or supervision that is necessary for them to work safely and without risks to their health. This is an extremely important requirement and employers must ensure their workers receive site specific as well general construction induction training. It is also important to provide adequate supervision as construction activities can be very dangerous and employers will be held liable if incidents occur due to lack of supervision or training.

5. Employers must also monitor the conditions at workplaces under their management and control.

6. Consulting workers on matters of safety is not only useful but smart. As far as is reasonably practicable employers must consult with their workers who are directly affected by certain health and safety matters.

Employers who try to escape their duties by drawing up contracts that relinquish their responsibilities will still be held liable for safety breaches on the sites. An employer’s legal duties cannot be removed or limited through contractual arrangements with other employers, workers or contractors.

For example, if a principal contractor (PC) has a supervisor on-site other employers (contractors) must still supervise their workers to ensure their work is being done safely.

Site safety planning should be managed and coordinated by the PC and should involve all employers. Each employer should plan how to safely do the work activities over which they have control.

In order to maintain a safe site, an overall management system needs to be implemented to manage and control risks that may arise from the particular work being done.

A safety system should include processes for: managing the health and safety of contractors and sub-contractors, identifying people with OHS responsibilities,  developing and managing consultation procedures for health and safety issues, identifying hazards and control risks, developing rules for site safety, monitoring site activities and enforcement of safety rules, establishing site amenities and implement regular maintenance, developing site specific induction for workers,  controlling access onto the site by ensuring only trained and competent workers are allowed to work on-site. This safe system also entails ensuring all plant, machinery and equipment are safe for operation and are safely used including developing traffic management plans and cordoning off zones for specific machinery and making sure these areas are barricaded with appropriate signage erected.

Another important responsibility in site management is developing emergency response plans for emergency situations. Each employer on-site needs to effectively manage the safety of their workers, mobile plant and equipment. It is not just the responsibility of the sites owner or host employer.

Responsibilities including making sure safe work method statements (SWMS) are developed for all high risk construction work, workers are competent or are directly supervised by competent workers and the health and conditions of workers are monitored.

Powered plant needs to be mechanically sound to be used on site and documentation confirming this needs to be available.

A labour provider also has a part to play, in ensuring that workers have completed mandatory construction industry induction training, have completed the provider’s own safety induction, are qualified to undertake the tasks required and are physically able to undertake the required tasks.

The host employer must provide suitable amentities on site and make sure all workers are trained on the sites safety procedures They should also provide the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and protective clothing for the tasks to be done free of charge to workers.

 Posted by Steven Asnicar

 

White Card Update: Guidance When Working from Elevated Heights on Construction Sites

Falling from heights has long been identified as the most common cause of deaths on construction sites in Australia. The reason for this may be that employers and workers are not awarding the appropriate attention to the development of safety procedures on site.

It is vital to site safety that hazards be identified before beginning work. This can be done a number of ways depending on the type of work involved and the hazards associated with the hazard.

Consulting with workers is an informative and helpful means of identifying hazards as workers are most in contact with work processes and hazards. Workers usually have first hand experience of hazards.

When carrying out the following activities, a risk assessment exercise should always be carried out:

  • on an unstable surface
  • on a surface which is sloping and/or slippery
  • near an unprotected edge or opening.
  • on a structure being constructed or being demolished
  • on fragile roofing
  • while using access equipment

By carrying out a risk assessment employers are able to implement the appropriate control measures. Once hazards have been identified they should be assessed in terms of their risks.

The risk to be assessed is involves questioning:

1.       The likelihood that injury will occur

2.       The severity of the injury should it occur.

Factors to consider when assessing the likelihood and severity of risk that may cause a person to

fall include:

  • condition of the work surface, e.g. an uneven surface or a surface with unprotected edges which are not identified or are difficult to see
  • bad weather conditions, e.g. heavy rain or wind
  • number of people who may be at risk
  • location of the work area
  • location of access routes
  • type of work to be carried out
  • work practices in use
  • scheduling of work
  • type of plant, machinery and equipment to be used
  • training and experience of the people carrying out the work
  • sudden acceleration or deceleration
  • moving from one surface to another
  • the capability of the surface to support the load
  • loss of hand grip
  • type of footwear
  • equipment, tools, or rubbish obstructing work areas
  • incorrect use of ladders
  • clothing catching
  • moving surfaces
  • lighting
  • likelihood of being struck by a moving or falling object.

CONTROLLING THE RISK

Once the risk has been identified and assessed the risks should be either eliminated or substituted.

As with all hazards controls must be implemented in the following order:

  • eliminate the hazard, e.g. work on the ground instead of from a height
  • minimise the risk, such as substituting a work process with a less hazardous one, such as using walkways for access instead of using ladders.
  • Isolation of the hazard, e.g. using a physical barrier
  • modify the system of work or equipment such as using a travel restraint
  • If none of the above can reduce the hazard sufficiently, adopt administrative controls, such as changing work rosters.
  • Personal protective equipment should be the last resort, but should be worn as an additional safety measure.

A workplace health and safety plan should be used to manage workplace health and such as plan should include how to handle hazards to health and safety from working on an elevated position or any place from which a person can fall.

The risks need to be assessed and identify which risks could result in a fall hazard. Employers should also consider control measures to eliminate or minimise the level of risk. Employers should also indicate how the control measures can be monitored and reviewed.

Control measures must be in place before a worker starts work at a height, such as ensuring working platforms are in place before formwork is erected. Some cases warrant more than control measure at time to be implemented in conjunction with one another. Physical barriers are the preferred method of preventing a person from falling from height, examples include edge protection systems and fall protection covers.

An edge protection system can be made of guard railing to be used on the edge of working platforms, walkways, stairways, ramps and landings and should run parallel to the working surface.

Holes or openings are often covered with wire mesh. These should not be used as a working platform. All covers should be securely fixed around the hole. Signs should also be attached to the cover to warn people that there is a hole underneath. This is a particularly dangerous hazard as many lives have been lost when workers fell through these mesh covers.

For example, metal mesh is spread on top of purlins or battens to provide fall protection for roof installers from falling between the purlins or battens.

Systems of work and equipment that secure a person to a building or structure are known as personal fall protection, and should be used to minimise the risk of a person falling from a height or injury to a person after they have fallen from height.

The best method of protection is to use personal fall protection in conjunction with other fall protection systems. The use of these fall protection systems requires proper training to ensure that workers are using the equipment correctly if it is reduce the injury caused by falling.

A fall-arrest system is another method of fall protection, designed to arrest the fall of a worker. This system usually consists of a fall-arrest harness is an assembly of interconnected shoulder and leg straps, with or without a body belt designed to spread the load over the body and to prevent the wearer from falling out of the assembly.

An important factor in the safe use of a fall-arrest system is to reduce the free fall distance as far as possible. Correctly installed fall-arrest equipment will only safely arrest a fall if there are no obstructions in the fall path. The longer the free fall distance the greater the risk of the person hitting obstructions.

What to do if a person Falls

If a worker should fall, act immediately to retrieve the worker.

Catch platform and safety nets should only be used where it is not possible to provide any more reliable means of fall protection. A catch platform is a temporary platform located under a work area to catch a person after they have fallen.

A safety net must be installed as close as possible to the underside of the work area, but not in contact with the surface. The safety net must cover an area extending beyond the work area.

Personal Protective Clothing

Footwear that minimises the risk of slipping should be worn when working where there is a risk of falls from heights, as just one slip could prove fatal. Consider the surface you are going to be working on, for example it may be raining and the surface wet and slippery.

Also a safety helmet should be worn and safely attached to the persons head so that in the evnt of a fall it does not become removed from the person as this would defeat the purpose of wearing a helmet in the first place.

By following the correct safety procedures, the number of deaths that result from falls each year on construction sites can be reduced and more lives can be saved.

Posted by Steven Asnicar

 

 

White Card Update: Construction Safety Research Project Commences

An interesting post recently on SafetyCulture.com.au brought an important issue for the construction industry to light. Two construction giants have agreed to fund a safety research project following an incident six years ago. This is good news for construction workers as more undertakings of this nature can help shed some light on safety issues plaguing the industry.

The post on SafetyCulture.com.au had this to say:

Two big construction companies have agreed in to a $225,000 enforceable undertaking after two concrete panels fell from a contractor’s truck six years ago.

 The incident happened near the Eastlink tollway project at Ringwood in October 2006. The tollway was being constructed by the companies in a joint venture. They subcontracted other companies to transport the concrete panels which were used as sound barriers.

 Enforceable undertakings, according to WorkSafe Victoria, were a recommendation of the 2003 review of the Occupational Health and Safety Act by Chris Maxwell QC. They serve as an alternative to prosecution in some cases and can provide quicker resolution of an issue, but with a direct safety outcome.

 Instead of a prosecution with WorkSafe Victoria, the two companies will spend up to $225,000 to research best-practice for contractor engagement and management.

 Ian Forsyth, WorkSafe Victoria’s Deputy Chief Executive, said the research was a terrific outcome for workplace safety.

 “The money we would have expected to have been imposed as a fine will go directly toward a safety outcome with a practical application.

 “A significant part of the application of workplace health and safety is not just applying what the law says about basic obligations, but what is also ‘reasonably practicable’.”

 The companies will engage a WorkSafe-approved independent health and safety experts and report back to WorkSafe on their findings within six months.

 As part of the process, guidance materials will be developed and will be posted on the companies’ websites. These will be distributed to industry stakeholders.

 If the research project costs less than the set amount, the difference will be donated to Monash University’s Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research.

 The research will look at the selection, engagement, monitoring and management of specialist contractors which dominate major infrastructure projects.

Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php

Thankfully the 2 companies involved admitted to their shortcomings in failing to provide the appropriate training, safe work systems and supervision to workers although they were well aware of the risks.  It is hoped more research of this nature will help reduce the large number of injuries and fatalities we see on construction sites each year.

On a construction site there are some dangers that are more prevalent than others and are common to most construction sites, both  residential and commercial sites. Some of the other areas that warrant investigation due to their prevalence in construction are falls from heights, electrical hazards, working with dangerous plant, machinery and equipment. A shocking statistic was released recently which revealed that approximately 20 Victorian tragedies a week occur on housing construction sites alone, costing the industry a staggering $17million a year in medical costs, wages and other expenses. More research is required in these areas if we are to reduce the amount of lives lost and decrease the cost to the nation’s economy which is currently about $1.5billion annually.

The report goes on to state:

 The two companies admitted to failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work and provide information instruction, training and supervision, and ensuring that people other than workers were not exposed to risks.

 “What we achieved in this case is getting two major companies to pay for research that may have application elsewhere,” said Mr Forsyth.

 The company engaged in transporting the concrete panels was convicted and fined $30,000 in 2009.

 More information on enforceable undertakings can be accessed through WorkSafe’s Compliance and enforcement policy.

Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php

While construction is a rewarding industry, it requires attention to safety In order to maintain the health and safety of the workers on site. A prioritisation of safety begins with identifying the risks and developing a strategy In which to deal with these risks, by either substituting them with a less dangerous activity or minimising the risk using control measures.

Posted by Steven Asnicar

 

White Card Online – Presents Scaffolding – Origins and Use

oh&s white card – Scaffolding is an interesting invention, and it has been used for decades. There are different kinds of scaffolding in different countries. They use bamboo as scaffolding in some Asian countries, and it is very dangerous. This danger is not something that you can expect in Australia as the white card online process ensures your safety when working on a construction site. This means that everyone on the site knows how to operate and work safely, and knows how to use scaffolding safely.

oh&s white cardIn The Ancient World – Before White Card Online!

Sadly, the White Card has not been around for ever! So safety on construction sites was not present in the ancient times, when scaffolding was first used. The first recorded scaffolding was in ancient Greece (the early 5th century). It was also used in Egypt, Nubia, and China around that time. This genius invention allows the construction of large and several story buildings. At this point in time, people couldn’t simply complete safety training in a fast online process!White Card Online

oh&s white cardIn the Modern Day

The modern day construction site is a lot safer than an older construction site, as you can see simply by looking at some historical photographs. The famous picture of construction workers eating their lunch on a piece of garter at the site of the new york empire state building, even shows that there are massive differences in safety standards between then and now. Nowadays, scaffolding must be approved and tested before being used. It is essentially a light construct that is used to gain access to higher stories in building site projects, so it can be very dangerous and requires a lot of safety regulation so that nobody is injured or hurt. When you look at it, you realize that it is just lightweight steel, that has revolutionized the building process.

oh&s white card Grab Your White Card Online Today!

oh&s white card – The White Card represents the safety training you have undertaken to allow you to work on a construction site. This kind of White Card Online training means that you can look out for your mates and yourself when on the construction site, to make dangerous construction safer.

 

Two Perfect Employment Opportunities

Before you go out looking for a job in the construction industry there are a few things that you should make sure you have done. The first is to get your construction industry white card which you can get online rather fast and easy with the white card online course. Once you have got this card, then you need to do some preliminary and essential research into the job market so that you can get out there and start making a solid income. But this is essential, you don’t want to just go out into the market and get the first job that comes your way. If you are like me, then you will want to go out and get a job that will allow you to earn a lot and have a lot of fun. This first article displays a skills shortage which is seen in Australia, and specifically to do with Heritage listed buildings and their upkeep. Essentially, what is needed is stonework, traditional plastering and stained glass conservation.

Skills shortage puts heritage at risk

  • by: David Beniuk
  • From: AAP
  • April 28, 2012 12:00AM
port arthur

Sandstone ruins of church at Port Arthur, Tasmania Sep 1996. ruins/Tasmania Source: The Advertiser

A SHORTAGE of old fashioned building skills in Tasmania could put 40 per cent of Australia’s heritage-listed buildings at risk of falling into disrepair.

The state’s building industry training board has warned the know-how needed to conserve a huge list of heritage properties is fast disappearing.

Tasmania is home to around 5500 heritage-listed buildings, which account for 40 per cent of all such buildings in the country.

The Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board has commissioned research on the demand for skills like stonework, traditional plastering and stained glass conservation.

“If we actually add in the properties that aren’t registered, I’d suggest that Tasmania probably has even a larger proportion than that,” board chairman David Hudson told reporters on Monday.

“All of those are obviously deteriorating over time, and if we get to a stage where the skills needed to repair and remediate these buildings aren’t available then, yes, they are all at risk.”

Mr Hudson said the problem existed throughout Australia, citing a 2010 report on Victoria, which has 14 per cent of Australia’s heritage properties.

“Perhaps it’s perceived as an older skill, one that’s not needed any more,” he said.

“Property owners are actually finding it difficult to find these practitioners, which means either the work isn’t done or, sometimes even worse, it’s done by someone who hasn’t got the appropriate skills which actually makes the deterioration worse.”

Researcher Andrew Jones said a small but highly skilled workforce was needed to replace ageing tradesmen close to retirement.

“The main driver of heritage skills training in the state at the moment is personal interest,” Mr Jones said.

“We need to try to make sure that maybe there’s some more formal training available for the younger tradesmen and women.

“If we don’t act now, I think in 10, 15 years’ time we’ll have a situation where we no longer have highly skilled specialist heritage practitioners available to do work on properties.”

The research is due to be completed in mid-May.

Source:  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/skills-shortage-puts-heritage-at-risk/story-e6frgcjx-1226338593176

 

The next article is rather simple, it describes a fairly important job opportunity for you, and any construction workers who may be looking for jobs. It describes how the ACTU (Australian Commission for Trades and Unions) is planning to have all buildings in Australia free of Asbestos in the next few coming years. This means that there will be a large expanse of jobs in the coming years that will be designed to clear asbestos out of buildings, and this is something that you can take advantage of, so long as you have the right qualifications. This includes having the ohs white card course card, which you can get fast and straightforward online.

AUSTRALIA’S buildings must be asbestos free by 2030 regardless of the cost of the widespread removal of the deadly construction product, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) says. ACTU president Ged Kearney today called for an independent asbestos authority to be established to carry out a nationwide audit and removal of the material which can cause terminal lung diseases.Ms Kearney could not put a price-tag on a national removal scheme but said the cost was irrelevant.”The cost of lives… cannot be measured in dollar terms. We must put resources into this and we must make absolutely sure we get Australia asbestos free.”

Asbestos was mined and widely used in Australian buildings, primarily in cement sheeting, from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Exposure to asbestos caused over 9000 cases of the terminal cancer mesothelioma between 1982 and 2006, the ACTU says.
Ms Kearney said the 2030 target was realistic but only if the Federal Government’s asbestos management review laid out a comprehensive national plan when the final report is submitted in June.

“To achieve this we’re going to need a national audit of all asbestos containing material with government buildings and dumps as a priority,” she told reporters in Melbourne.

“We want a prioritised removal program starting with government owned sites and we want to make sure asbestos is only removed by licenced removalists.”

Source:  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news-old/australia-must-be-asbestos-free-actu/story-fn3dxity-1226340781051

 

So if you want to be able to work anywhere around Australia and take advantage of opportunities like this, then get online and complete the white card training online. This will allow you to work anywhere in Australia and on any construction site, unlike the previous cards that were available. So take advantage of this new opportunity and find employment anywhere in Australia, so long as you get online and complete the white card course!

 

Choosing Construction and What You Will Be Using – White Card Online

The white card construction course online teaches you several things to do with construction, and while it teaches you how to be safe on the site, you also need to be able to enjoy your job. This means that you have to like construction, and as such you must think about whether or not you would really like to get into the construction industry. There are several things about construction that you might find appealing, and the first of which is that it is manual labor with your mates, that also requires a fair bit of planning and creativity. There are also several opportunities within the industry, such as promotions and bonuses that you might want to consider, when considering the industry.

What Kind Of Life Will I Expect? White Card Online Teaches

A construction worker lives a pretty good life, lets be honest. And they often progress through the ranks to a more highly paid position, and essentially they really do have a great life. The work is challenging and the mates you will gain become endless, but this only really can happen if the construction industry is for you. You need to be expecting a hard days work all the time, and you have to be able to think on the job, while always exercising safety and using your common sense. This is something that the white card online course teaches, you need to be on the ball all the time as a lapse of judgement could result in the safety of a co-worker being compromised. When you are working with machinery and heavy equipment at heights, this can be very dangerous. But not only this, you need to be on the ball when constructing so that the building you make is safe and structurally sound.

You might want to check out this video below, on the lifestyle of an American Iron Worker. It’s a much harder one! But you do get used to it (apparently)

The Essential Tools For This Lifestyle

If you think that the construction industry is best suited to you, then you will want to get familiar with the primary equipment that you will be using. This includes a lot of pieces of machinery and construction tools, but one fundamental aspect of construction is the scaffolding necessity. But apparently American iron workers have no such need for scaffolding as seen in the video above! So let’s take a look at some of the origins and applications of scaffolding.

I know that this does not exactly sound like a largely interesting topic, as you probably see scaffolding as a necessity – something white card online makes you use for your own safety. But scaffolding is actually an interesting invention, and it has been used for decades. There are even different kinds of scaffolding based on different countries. You might already know that they use bamboo as scaffolding in some Asian countries, and it is very dangerous. This danger is not something that you can expect in Australia as the white card online process ensures your safety when working on a construction site. This means that everyone on the site knows how to operate and work safely, and knows how to use scaffolding safely.

In The Ancient World – Before White Card Online!

Sadly, White Card Online has not been around for ever! So safety on construction sites has not been present in the ancient times, when scaffolding was first used. The first recorded scaffolding was in ancient Greece (the early 5th century). It was also seen to be used in Egypt, Nubia, and China around that time. This genius invention allows the construction of large and several story buildings.At this point in time, people couldn’t simply complete safety training in a fast online process!

White Card Online

In the Modern Day – White Card Online

The modern day construction site is a lot safer than an older construction site, as you can see simply by looking at some historical photographs. The famous picture of construction workers eating their lunch on a piece of garter at the site of the new york empire state building, even shows that there are massive differences in safety standards between then and now. But nowadays, scaffolding must be approved and tested before being used. Because it is essentially a light construct that is used to gain access to higher stories in building site projects, so it can be very dangerous and requires a lot of safety regulation so that nobody is injured or hurt. Even when you look at it, you realize that it is just lightweight steel used to create a structure, which has revolutionized the building process.

Grab Your White Card Online Today!

The White Card may not seem like much, in fact it really is only just a small piece of plastic. But it represents the safety training you have undertaken to allow you to work on a construction site. This kind of White Card Online training means that you can look out for your mates and yourself when on the construction site, making dangerous construction safer.