Contractor newsletter

Electrical safety: Preventing incidents on the job

Recent incident data shows an increase in electrical incidents across our worksites. Whether you’re directly handling electrical work or operating near electrical equipment, taking precautions is crucial. 

Key electrical safety risks

• Live electrical contact – Accidental contact with live wires or energised equipment.
• Faulty equipment – Using damaged tools, frayed cords, or malfunctioning electrical devices.
• Poor isolation practices – Failing to de-energise before starting work.
• Overloaded circuits - Drawing too much power through a circuit, increasing fire and shock risks.

Electrical safety

• Complete a risk assessment – Identify electrical hazards before starting work.
• Test before you touch - Always verify a circuit is de-energised before working on it.
• Inspect tools & equipment – Check for damaged cords, broken equipment or exposed wires before use.  Tag defective equipment out of service immediately.
• Report electrical hazards – Notify your supervisor and the WHS team immediately at whs@dha.gov.au if you notice exposed wiring, faulty outlets, or unsafe practices.

By staying aware and following best practices, we can reduce the risk of electrical incidents and create a safer workplace for everyone. Remember, think ahead and stay safe!

Before starting work: Complete a Risk Assessment

Risk assessments are crucial for workplace safety but are often overlooked or rushed. Skipping this step increases the risk of injuries, equipment damage and legal consequences.

Why Risk Assessments Matter

• Identify hazards - Recognise potential risks before they cause harm.
• Prevent Accidents - Taking proactive measures reduces accidents.
• Ensure Compliance - Meeting legal and safety requirements protect both workers and businesses.
• Protects lives and equipment - Proper hazard control keeps workers safe and prevents equipment damage.

As a contractor, you must assess risks before starting work and ensure safety measures are in place. If task feels unsafe or new hazards arise, stop work and think again before proceeding.

Making risk assessments a habit prevents accidents, protects lives and ensures compliance with safety regulations. 

Reminder: Your WHS legal obligations as a Contractor

Workplace Health and Safety Laws protect everyone on site. As a contractor, you have legal obligations to maintain a safe working environment. Failing to meet these responsibilities can result in serious consequences including fines, and health risks.

Your key WHS responsibilities

• Duty of care – You are legally required to take reasonable steps to protect yourself and others.
• Follow risk management procedures – Identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls before starting a task.
• Work safely with equipment – Ensure tools, machinery and electrical equipment are used correctly, maintained and inspected before use.
• Training and competency – Work only within your qualifications and skill level.
• Use PPE and follow safe work procedures – Always wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow safety guidelines.

Report Incidents and hazards- You must report all workplace hazards, near misses, injuries and notifiable incidents immediately to your site supervisor and the WHS team at whs@dha.gov.au.

Non-compliance with WHS laws can result in:

• Injuries or fatalities.
• Heavy fine and legal penalties.
• Suspension from worksites.
• Work shutdowns and delays.

Understanding and following WHS obligations contribute to a safer, compliant and more productive worksite. If unsure about safety requirements, ask before proceeding – safety always comes first.

Notifiable Incident Reporting: What you need to know

Timely reporting of notifiable incidents is crucial for maintaining a safe workplace. All incidents that occur in Defence Housing Australia (DHA) workplaces must be reported based on severity.

Incidents vs. notifiable incidents

An incident – any event in the workplace that results in or has the potential to result in:

• Injury and/or illness.
• Property damage.
• A near miss.
  

Notifiable incidents – serious incidents that must be reported to regulatory authorities including:

• The serious injury or illness.
• A dangerous incident.
• The death of a person.

How to report an incident

1. Report all Notifiable incidents immediately to your site supervisor and the WHS team at whs@dha.gov.au or 139 342 (option 3).
2. Lodge a formal report with the relevant safety regulator as soon as possible.

All other incidents must be reported to the WHS Team within 24 hours via phone 139 342 (option 3) or email whs@dha.gov.au.

Why reporting matters

Your diligence in reporting incidents ensures workplace safety and compliance with WHS laws. Failure to report a notifiable incident can lead to severe penalties. If unsure, report it or contact the WHS team at whs@dha.gov.au - safety always comes first.

Important update: Engineered stone re-installation exemption

Contractors working with engineered stone should be aware of the new exemption of the Work, Health and Safety (Re-installation of Existing Engineered Stone) Exemption 2024. This exemption allows the removal of re-installation of existing engineered stone, benchtops, panels or slabs under strict conditions.

 Key Points

•  Applies to businesses (PCBU’s) overseeing or conducting this work.
• Re-installation is only permitted if the stone was removed to:
  • Repair or modify other underlying cabinetry.
  • Access or modify other underlying components.

Strict conditions apply, including:

• The stone must be re-installed at the same time location and address from which it was removed.
• No replacement engineered stone can be installed if the original cannot be reused.
• Notification to the regulator is required before the work starts, including the details of the job, type of work, frequency and duration.
• Work must be limited to removal, repair, or minor modifications and conducted under controlled conditions to manage silica dust risks.

If you’re involved removing and reinstalling engineered stone, ensure full compliance, including proper notification and dust control measures.

This exemption remains in effect until further regulatory changes.

For more details, check the latest from Comcare.  

Together we can make 2025 a safer year for everyone.