Safety starts with a conversation

If you've driven past the Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme Augmentation (SWISA) construction works or have crews working on your property, you've probably noticed that work doesn't always begin the moment people arrive on site.

According to Tasmanian Irrigation Safety Manager James Cassidy, that's by design.

"Construction sites are constantly changing, James said.

"Even if you've been on the same site the day before, the people, equipment, weather, ground conditions and work activities may all be different.

"Taking a few minutes to talk through the job before work starts helps everyone understand the risks and the controls that need to be in place. Those conversations are one of the most important parts of the day."

Before work begins, every task follows a simple four step risk management process. Hazards are identified, risks are assessed, appropriate controls are put in place, and those controls are reviewed throughout the day as conditions change. For high-risk construction activities, this is documented in a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS), which identifies the hazards, assesses the risks and sets out the controls needed to complete the work safely.

Workers then complete a Take 5, a short, on the spot risk assessment that encourages them to stop, look around, identify anything that has changed and confirm it is safe to begin the task, even when a SWMS or other procedure is already in place.

"A Take 5 might only take a few minutes, but it gives everyone the opportunity to identify any new hazards before work starts, James said.

"If conditions change during the day, we'll stop and do another one. It's a simple process, but it's one of the most effective tools we have."

For James, safety isn't about paperwork. It's about making sure everyone understands the job, works together and goes home safely at the end of the day.

To learn more about James and his role at Tasmanian Irrigation, read our article Introducing TI's New Safety Manager.