THE CANTERBURY REBUILD SAFETY & TRADE SUPPLEMENT
• THE COSTLY BUSINESS OF FALLS FROM HEIGHT • GOOD SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS • CONCRETE STEPS FORWARD FOR THE REBUILD • THE EVOLUTION OF CONCRETE PRODUCTS
DRIVEWAYS – TENNIS COURTS – CAR PARKS – SUBDIVISIONS
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HEIGHT SAFETY
The costly business of falls from height By Kathryn Heiler
Every year hundreds of New Zealand workers are seriously injured due to falls from height at work, some of them fatally. The cost of these falls from height is estimated to be $24 million a year in ACC claims – and that doesn’t even touch the human cost of losing a loved one, a valued worker and a member of the community. As the construction work in the Canterbury rebuild quickly moves ahead, it is crucial we do not lose sight of the importance of keeping our workers safe and healthy – and protect them from the hazards of working at height. Unless everyone commits to making the rebuild safe, we risk lost lives and injured workers. In cases where the employer has not fulfilled their responsibility by ensuring the worker’s safety while at work, they are liable to be
prosecuted under the Health and Safety in Employment Act.
What we’re doing Falls from height continue to be responsible for an unacceptable number of serious injuries reported to WorkSafe. More than half of these come from falls from less than three metres – most commonly off ladders or from single storey roofs. In the Canterbury rebuild alone there have been a number of serious harm incidents associated with falls from height reported to WorkSafe and continued vigilance is essential to ensure that the health and safety performance in the rebuild improves. Based on the estimated number of workers involved in the rebuild effort through to 2018, and the Canterbury construction industry’s health and safety record to date, if we don’t continue to make health and safety a priority we could see
one to two construction related fatalities in each year of the rebuild. This is unacceptable. Rebuilding Canterbury safely is a top priority for WorkSafe and the Government. That’s why we are working closely with industry, government departments, employers and workers representatives. WorkSafe’s Preventing Falls from Height campaign has three parts: • Awareness raising – engaging the sector about the hazards associated with working at height • Education - providing safety information about what safe working at heights looks like • Targeted enforcement – visiting worksites where there is a risk of corners being cut. WorkSafe NZ produced the Best Practice Guidelines for Working at Height in New Zealand in 2012. The guidelines are a critical element of the programme, as they give all involved with working at height clear direction on how to manage their work in a way that will bring down the death and injury toll.
themselves and others safe. By achieving that, the guidelines also help those involved in the process meet their legal obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment (HSE) Act and the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations, 1995.
Targeted visits and enforcement WorkSafe’s health and safety capacity is growing, with an increasing number of inspectors actively visiting the industry and looking for workplaces that may be cutting corners or where improvements are needed. With falls from height such a major contributor to the number of serious harm and fatalities reported in the construction sector, it is crucial that the industry fully understands the hazards involved and their responsibilities to help keep workers safe. We must work together to make sure all our workers return home healthy and safe every night. Kathryn Heiler is the Canterbury Rebuild Health and Safety programme director.
The guidelines outline how people organising, planning and doing work at height can keep
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PUBLISHER: Academy Group BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Clive Greenwood CO-ORDINTATOR: Carolynne Brown
T H E R E B U I L D S A F E T Y & T R A D E S U P P L E M E N T – M AY 2 0 1 6
EDITORIAL: Jonathon Taylor WORKSAFE EDITORIAL : Kate Wright PRODUCTION: Jarred Shakespeare
PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 2 Ivan Jamieson Place, Christchurch Airport, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 1879, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch 8140 PHONE: +64 3 961 5050 | FAX: 0800 555 054 (New Zealand only) +64 3 961 5112 (International)
WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE SAFETY OF YOUR STAFF, CONTRACTORS AND THE PUBLIC. With more than 50 years’ experience in the construction sector we are well aware of the needs of the industry. This means we realise how important the safety of your best asset – your staff – is to you and your company’s future. So, as a local company servicing Cantabrians in the re-build of Christchurch, we are committed to the safety of your staff.
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DRUG TESTING
Drug testing in the workplace By Ross Bell
Concerns your employees might come to work having recently taken drugs are entirely reasonable. No workplace wants a drug-impaired person in front of its customers or operating its heavy machinery. It’s dangerous, hurts morale and is bad for the bottom line. Evidence shows New Zealanders have comparatively high levels of drug use, so it’s inevitable some individuals within some businesses will come to work impaired. That’s why workplace drug testing may seem attractive, especially in a region like Canterbury where a lot of new people have come to find work, many of them young. But things are never simple and, if not done well, drug testing could have some very serious impacts on your work environment. That’s largely because people’s dignity and civil liberties are involved and we’re (usually) asking them to pee into a cup. If drug testing is done in an atmosphere of suspicion, or if employees get even a hint that assumptions have been made about them, it can leave them feeling negative and like their privacy and dignity are
under threat. And this can lead to some very delicate situations for you as the boss and illustrates how complex the issue is. If you’re going to use workplace drug testing you need to find that right balance between protecting your workplace and not intruding on the rights of your employees beyond what is reasonably necessary. In fact you’re going to need a really well thought through workplace drug policy that covers far more than testing, so it is advised that you talk with a lawyer who has experience in employment law.
employees to develop a robust workplace drug policy.
reduces or eliminates any need for drug testing at all.
When all levels of your organisation have input, when employees’ rights are respected, when staff are educated about drug use and know what you expect of them, when they know you’re willing to help and not just punish, you may find you have a workplace culture developing that
Download Alcohol and Other Drugs in the Workplace at: http://tinyurl.com/ workplaceaod. Ross Bell is the executive director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation. Visit: www.drugfoundation.org.nz
A US study found lower levels of worker drug use in companies with drug education and employee assistance programmes. A UK inquiry found that, while drug testing has a role, particularly where safety is a concern, investing in training and systems is likely to have a more positive impact and would be less costly, divisive or invasive. Alcohol and Other Drugs in the Workplace is an excellent resource for employers thinking about dealing with drug use at work. It was developed by ALAC, ACC, The Drug Foundation and the Department of Labour, and has relevant and easily digestible information about how to work with your
Managing drug and alcohol risk in the workplace Employees who arrive at work under the influence of drugs or alcohol are a safety hazard not only to themselves, but also to other staff and it's vital that directors effectively address this risk. The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) CEO, Kirk Hardy says "Furthermore these staff are also a potential risk to the wider community once they step out the door and leave work. The issue needs to be addressed and effectively managed with both staff training and pre-employment and on-site drug and alcohol testing. "The responsibilities of directors to address and effectively deal with drugs and alcohol in the workplace has become mandatory under new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, introduced by Government in April 2016," he says. Drugs and alcohol, a growing and significant contributor to workplace accidents, are specifically stated as a hazard under the new Act. "For directors or those in a governance role, the implications are significant. There will be a due diligence duty to proactively manage health and safety. Individual officers will be personally liable and are not able to delegate responsibility," Kirk says. “For directors it makes sense to proactively manage drugs and alcohol risk before falling foul of the new legislation.
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Creating a drug-free environment requires a robust drug and alcohol policy, training and education for staff and managers, and drug and alcohol testing.” Kirk adds that workplace safety is vital to the health of New Zealand business. "Failure to manage health and safety risk has both a human and business cost. Under the new Act, the consequences for not identifying risk become more serious than currently in place, with proposed fines of up to $600,000 and up to five years imprisonment. TDDA is the leading on-site workplace drug and testing agency, with offices throughout Australasia.
H&S CHARTER
Good safety is good business “Through the last two years I have seen a huge lift in safety awareness - the Charter can help all builders lift this higher. Safety has given us some real gains in productivity, made us change our attitude – something I’m proud of.” Ivan Stanicich, general manager at Fowler Homes
Canterbury Rebuild Safety Charter – how it can help Formed in July 2013, the Canterbury Rebuild Safety Charter is industry-led and has more than 325 signatories and endorsees.
• Reduced sick pay and compensation claims
Signatories commit to 10 actions on their sites, and the sites their contractors and subcontractors run. They are: Leadership; Worker Engagement, Participation and Representation; Reporting; Upstream and Downstream Duties; Critical Risks; Managing Site Safety Risks; Site Induction; Training; Impairment; Health and Wellbeing.
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You don’t have to meet or comply with these actions right from the outset, but you should be actively working towards achieving them.
Research from MBIE on ‘How health and safety makes good business sense’ shows links between health and safety programmes and:
Reduced absenteeism, improved corporate reputation, better chances of winning contracts and improved staff retention.
What you’ll get from the Charter 1. Access to truly unique Charter tools including: • An organisational assessment tool • A checklist to help your organisation assess how you’re performing against the Charter as well as aggregate results
to compare your results with others in the industry • An organisational performance plan which is generated once you complete the assessment tool. It helps you plan to improve your Charter performance • Personal leadership assessment tools. There are four tools for each of the following: directors, managers, site supervisors and workers. The tools help people assess their leadership performance and identify improvements. 2. Support and advice to help improve your organisation’s health and safety, including: • Help from the Charter support officer • Posters
about new business, health and safety, and innovative ideas. You’ll have access to Charter events on topical H&S issues.
Get involved By signing the Charter you’re making a public commitment and agreeing to 10 H&S commitments on your sites. 1. First, read up here: safetycharter.org.nz 2. Sign up online: safetycharter.org.nz/sign-up/ 3. Pay an annual contribution to support the ongoing success of the Charter. The contribution is based on the size of your business and ranges from $0 – $1,500 per year for more than 100 FTEs. 4 Join us at our next quarterly event and officially sign the Charter!
• Toolbox talks • Guidance notes and fact sheets to improve Charter performance • Monthly newsletter
“Good safety performance is a license to operate.” Cos Bruyn, general manager, Downer
• A members’ section of the website to share industry documents. 3. Access to regular events and contacts with those in the industry. The Charter will help you connect with those in your industry and share ideas
Looking for staff? At Work and Income our focus is on helping our clients towards independence and part of our business is to understand and assist with your recruitment needs. It is an easy and no-cost recruitment service through a dedicated Work Broker. They will work with you to help you find the right people. Our network of staff is dedicated to helping you find the right person for your business. We can: • Talk with you and get to know your business and what you’re looking for • List your vacancy – we may even find the right person before we list it • Shortlist and help with the interview process if you choose. We’re focused on getting people into work. There are lots of things we may be able to do to support this, including: • Providing training or wage subsidies for new recruits (if the person you are employing meets the eligibility criteria) • Supporting disabled people or people with health conditions into work – including arranging modifications • Supporting you and your new staff member to help them settle into your workplace. Industry Partnerships If you’re in an industry where there’s a skills shortage, we may be able to partner with you to up-skill and train suitable candidates to meet your needs. Right now we have partnerships with hospitality, retail, building and construction, call centres, horticulture, meat and seafood processing, security and more. If you see a gap in your industry, talk with us about it. Helping young people into work LSV is a six-week residential motivational programme run by the New Zealand Defence Force blending physical challenges, life skills and getting ready for work. LSV graduates are young people aged between 17 and 25 years. They all have one thing in common – they want to work.
Graeme Harris owner of Airpark Canterbury has employed 22 people from Work and Income in less than 4 years, and 20 are still working there. This is testament to a great work environment where people are encouraged and respected, says Work Broker Julie Carston. Airpark Canterbury is a 24/7 Airport park and ride service which provides safe and secure parking just 4 minutes ride from the airport terminal. They also offers on demand shuttle services direct from the parking facility, so clients can park and fly at their convenience. Graeme and General Manager Robyn Anderson have filled a range of positions with Work and Income referrals, from drivers to valets and more. Brent was the first lucky person to be employed. He had a good work history but found himself unemployed for some time before he was referred to a vacancy at Airpark Canterbury. He drives the Airport Shuttle and he loves his job. He enjoys greeting the clients and offering excellent customer service to everyone he meets. Graeme says recruiting from Work and Income makes sense. “Work and Income really know their clients. I get a better idea about a person, their skills and personality from Julie the Work Broker than I do from a CV or any other recruitment agency. Julie knows about our business and who is a good fit for us. It’s about people. We go on Julie’s recommendation and gut instinct. It works for us”.
Contact Canterbury Work Broker Julie Carston at Julie.Carston005@msd.govt.nz for your recruitment needs or visit www.workandincome.govt.nz/employers/ for more information.
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CONSTRUCTION CONCRETE
The evolution of concrete products By Rob Gaimster
The immediate future of the concrete and wider construction industry looks upbeat with levels of activity predicted to remain positive. Within this space there are various emerging markets for concrete. These include architectural precast concrete, medium density / multi-storey residential construction (including basements), infrastructure (concrete pavements and intersections, as well as pervious and permeable concrete), residential construction (concrete prefabrication, concrete masonry and insulated concrete formwork), not to mention seismic retrofits. However, it is always beneficial to cast an eye slightly further afield to gauge‘supplementary’ areas of concrete construction and associated undertakings. The following is a‘snap shot’of evolving concrete products and technical trends that may become influential in New Zealand over coming years.
3D concrete printing Threatening to move beyond novelty value, the ability to 3D print using concrete is generating a lot of headlines. Extruding concrete through a nozzle to build structural components layer-by-layer without the use of formwork or any subsequent vibration, is touted as ideal for optimising construction time, cost, design flexibility, error reduction and environmental aspects.
CO2 capture in concrete Carbon dioxide emissions are recognised as an issue relating to cement production and the use of concrete as a building material. One potential method to offset this is to recycle captured carbon dioxide into concrete products. The method involves collecting carbon dioxide (CO2) and injecting it into fresh concrete (precast, masonry blocks or ready mix), where it becomes chemically sequestered within the concrete.
Depolluting concrete Depolluting concrete uses photocatalysts to accelerate the process whereby solar or ultraviolet energy breaks down pollutants. The principal
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catalytic component is titanium dioxide (TiO2), which takes the form of a white pigment within the specially blended Portland cement. The structure of TiO2 is altered to create tiny semiconductor particles capable of photocatalysis. These are activated by the energy in light to create a surface charge that reacts with the organic compounds.
Imbedded sensors (smart buildings) The global Internet of Things phenomenon is opening opportunities for sensor technology. Sensing capabilities are significant in all fields, particularly smart buildings. The reasons for this uptake are several, from social to environmental to economical. Energy conservation, infrastructure monitoring, accident prevention and disaster containment are just some of the fields that can benefit from interconnected sensing devices – all of which are related in some way to concrete structures.
Lightweight aggregate Lightweight concrete, whether placed in-situ or precast, offers reduced deadweight and longer spans, yielding reductions in material usage and larger developable space on the same footprint.
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New and innovative varieties made almost entirely from waste diverted from landfill are gaining a foot hold. Some new products incorporate mixed coloured cullet glass and industrial mineral wastes.
Self-healing concrete Self-healing concrete (bio-concrete) can prolong the service life of concrete structures, and therefore reduce associated maintenance or repair costs. It uses bacterial spores encapsulated within tiny clay pellets in the concrete mix, along with other chemicals and a nutrient agent. The bacteria are activated by moisture that penetrates the initial crack. Not only do the bacteria consume oxygen to lessen the likelihood of reinforcing steel corrosion, but they also produce carbon ions that react with the calcium in the concrete to create a type of limestone that seals the crack.
White cement + value added mixes There is a trend among some ready mixed concrete producers to look to white concretes as a means to secure market share. As customers call for decorative and specialty mixes, they are embracing integral colour and white cement as a way to boost returns. A growing number of producers see decorative concrete, white cement
and other value-added products as an important segment of their business.
Ultra High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete Another value added mix that is turning heads is Ultra High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) - a concrete with a high degree of ductility combined with compressive strengths of 150MPa or higher, and Compact Reinforced Composite (CRC) - a special type of UHPFRC combining high strength, steel-fibre reinforcement and closely spaced reinforcing bars. UHPFRC is gaining uptake for bridge applications, while architects are using CRC for slender balconies, staircases, beams and columns. So while traditional uses for concrete will (literally), remain the foundation market in coming years, emerging applications such as medium density residential construction and infrastructure, will also gain a significant foothold. Yet at the same time exciting niche concrete products and technologies are poised to grab headlines and ultimately market position. Rob Gaimster is chief executive of the Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand. Visit: www.ccanz.org.nz
CONSTRUCTION CONCRETE
Concrete steps forward for the Canterbury rebuild By Rob Gaimster
Construction activity across Canterbury is at peak levels and predicted to continue for several years. Such significant growth in building work is evident, particularly in Christchurch, where residential, commercial and civil works gather momentum. The result is regenerated suburbs, a rising cityscape and infrastructure redevelopment – all utilising the strength and versatility of concrete. Progress across the region is evident not just in casual observations of construction site activity, but also by regularly collected data. Statistics New Zealand data shows that Canterbury has registered growth in concrete production unmatched by any other region. Total figures for Canterbury from September 2010 to December 2014 were $11.5 billion of building consents and 20,372 new dwellings consented. It is clear that construction work across Canterbury is progressing at an encouraging pace, will last some time, and includes remarkable levels of concrete consumption.
Residential construction There are many concrete solutions for residential construction being used in Canterbury. These include masonry blocks, precast panels and Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF), in which hollow reinforced polystyrene blocks are filled with concrete and plastered to provide a structural wall system.
There are proprietary slab systems available, offering a stiffer and stronger final product than a conventional 100mm slab, the“waffle”or“raft” design creates a concrete grid between voids, typically polystyrene blocks. These slabs“float”on the ground, assisting their seismic performance. Concrete slab systems for TC3 land are also available. Several changes to the New Zealand Building Code have been made since the Canterbury earthquakes that strengthen concrete slab’s position. Specifically, all concrete floor slabs for timber framed buildings constructed on‘good ground’must contain seismic grade reinforcing mesh, and perimeter foundations must be tied to the slab. These updated regulations, combined with the benefits outlined above, along with fire resistance, sound control, and a huge range of attractive finishes, will see residential property owners across Canterbury well served by concrete slabs.
Commercial construction Office buildings are becoming the main feature of the central city’s construction landscape. The areas west of the Avon in the central city, and Victoria Street, Lincoln Road or Moorhouse Avenue have seen the most activity. As awareness of the ground conditions across the city has become more sophisticated, the use of concrete in robustly engineered foundation
designs will ensure commercial buildings rest on a firm footing. Damage resistant design solutions that use reinforced concrete, such as Precast Seismic Structural System (PRESSS) and base isolation, will gain uptake among building designers as knowledge grows. Concrete is also playing an important role in many high profile projects. For instance, the $650 million redevelopment of Christchurch and Burwood hospitals relies heavily on concrete. The Bus Interchange, another‘anchor project’, is built on a massive concrete foundation. Poured in September 2014 the slab took around nine hours to complete and used around 1,480m3 of concrete.
The next concrete step With residential construction continuing apace, along with commercial and civil projects being completed and coming on stream, the design versatility and inherent properties of concrete will play a major part in ensuring the Canterbury built environment is attractive, robust and safe. Rob Gaimster is chief executive of the Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand. Visit: www.ccanz.org.nz
It is however, the humble slab that is the most widely used concrete solution for residential construction. The attraction of the concrete slab extends beyond value for money and durability. The role its mass plays in a passive solar design is also appreciated. By using concrete’s mass with the sun’s heat, along with natural ventilation, more comfortable living conditions can be achieved with reduced reliance on space heating or cooling. An exposed, insulated concrete floor absorbs, stores and later radiates the sun’s heat, off-setting temperature peaks and troughs, to create a moderate living environment.
CCANZ supports steel mesh investigation The Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ) is contacting its members to advise them of the action being taken by the Commerce Commission in relation to two steel mesh products used in residential floor slabs. “We are making our members aware of the problem with steel mesh products from two suppliers that may not comply with the Australia/ New Zealand standard (AS/NZ 4671:2001). “Insofar as our members can influence the situation, there should be no further use of
the Brilliance Steel and Euro Corporation steel mesh products identified by the Commerce Commission until further tests are completed to confirm or not whether the products meet the relevant New Zealand standard,”CCANZ chief executive Rob Gaimster says. Steel mesh is used for strengthening floor slabs (and driveways), and the New Zealand Building Code was updated following the major Canterbury earthquake in 2011 to require Grade 500E ductile steel mesh in residential slabs. “We know nothing more than what has been announced by the Commerce Commission and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) however, we are very conscious of the vigilance required around
construction industry standards. This is an issue about standards not safety. “In the case of concrete production, New Zealand standard NZS 3104:2003 must be complied with. The concrete industry has stringent checks and balances in place that monitors compliance through a self-regulating audit scheme. CCANZ fully supports such self-regulating industry audit schemes. “Steel mesh standards fall outside the immediate standards pertaining to the concrete industry, but we support the Commerce Commission and MBIE,”Rob says.
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