Safety

Occupational health and safety is a primary consideration in the planning and organisation of the project’s operations.

The project involves many different activities from earthworks to bridges and encompasses road users, workers and residents. By identifying the potential major hazards associated with the different activities on site, it is possible to reduce the risk of injury to employees, public and damage to equipment. Strategies include:

• To plan each stage of the project with safe working as one of the primary objectives.
• To ensure the appropriate equipment is used for each operation including the provision of protective clothing.
• To encourage everyone to work together in developing and maintaining safety.
• To provide adequate training and instruction.
• To ensure adequate supervision.
• To maintain adequate records and undertake full accident investigations.
• To provide full feedback information to all participants.

Hazards identified for the project include:

• Construction plant (large machines and continuous activity).
• Existing services (high voltage, fibre optic cable, etc).
• Piling (large cranes, heavy materials).
• Bridge construction.
• Terrain (steep slopes).
• Adjacent traffic on public roads, including intersections.
• The mixing of construction plant and traffic.
• Working at heights.

Risk management is integral to the project and its evaluation and assessment play a significant role. Detailed processes require each major activity and sub-activity associated with the works to be given a risk rating. This is the catalyst for the subsequent development of safe work procedures which are documented on job hazard analysis (JHA) worksheets. Regular training is provided to give work crews and supervisors help in the development and understanding of these worksheets and risk management.