INTRODUCTION

 

Shade Collective Pty Ltd recognises and acknowledges its obligation to take all practicable action to protect the health and safety of its employees, subcontractors and customers. It is the policy of Shade Collective Pty Ltd to ensure that, as far as it is reasonably practicable, all employees, subcontractors and customers remain free from injury and risk to health. Shade Collective Pty Ltd is committed to ensuring that work practices and procedures adopted throughout the company fulfil legislative occupational health, safety and welfare requirements. In accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, we aim to provide the necessary safety, training, rehabilitation and resources to ensure provision of a safe workplace and to promote WH&S awareness throughout Shade Collective Pty Ltd.

 

Installers are often exposed to safety risks which can present themselves when on site. The types of safety risks can vary from one installation to the next.  Shade Collective Pty Ltd puts safety first and we are continually focused on the health and safety of the blind installer/s, other workers, customers and any other person/s in or around the work zone.

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In the window furnishing Industry, the hazards can be many, but some risks more frequently present themselves than others. Below are just a few of the more commonly encountered hazards. Please keep in mind that even though Shade Collective Pty Ltd is obliged to follow all WH&S regulations, it is also your responsibility as the principal contractor/home owner to understand and know the WH&S regulations and to be able to identify potential hazards. 

 

WORKING FROM HEIGHTS

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Most blind, curtain or awning installations have a fixing height of no more than 3 metres from flat stable ground.  This is considered a standard installation. Our installers can only work from an A-frame ladder where their feet are no more than two metres above the ground. This will give you a safe fixing height of around 3.7 metres.  On commercial projects, most builders will only allow platform configured A-Frame Ladders which ensures the worker has two feet firmly placed on a platform during installation.

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A-frame ladders can only be used on level and stable ground. If the fixing height is more than 3.7 metres, sloping or deemed a confined space then a stable work platform is required to complete the installation. This would generally be in the form of an elevated work platform (EWP), scaffolding or boom lift.  We, at Shade Collective Pty Ltd can assist in determining what height access solution best suits the installation environment.  Working at height on roofs, or balconies can also present fall risks which also need to be eliminated or reduced in the form of guard rails, safety lanyards & or harnesses including the placement of anchor bolts for fall restraints and lanyards.

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Shade Collective Pty Ltd can help determine when and if height access is required and also advise on costs involved.

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ASBESTOS

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Shade Collective Pty Ltd installers will from time to time come across some claddings, substrate or materials which will contain asbestos.  Shade Collective Pty Ltd’s installers will not install or drill through any suspected asbestos or asbestos materials unless it is professionally removed and replaced.  If in doubt it is recommended that a sample be sent away to be tested.

 

INCLEMENT WEATHER

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In the event of inclement weather (raining, wet ground, lightning and high winds) Shade Collective Pty Ltd Installers will postpone any external installation and reschedule for another date. 

 

FOOTWEAR

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Shade Collective Pty Ltd Installers are required by law and to comply with insurance requirements to wear adequate footwear during any installation. Installers will at all times be required to wear footwear and at no stage will they remove their footwear.  If you have concerns of the installers footwear marking your floor please request they cover their shoes with protectors which are carried in their cars at all times.

 

CHILDREN AND PETS 

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It is the customers responsibility to provide a safe working environment while the installer is on site. During the course of the installation, the customer must keep all children and pets clear of any area where the installer may be working.  

 

OBSTRUCTIONS 

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Prior to the commencement and for the duration of the installation, the customer, owner/s, builder is responsible to provide a clear work environment for the Shade Collective Pty Ltd installer/s. For all internal & external blind installations, all working areas must be free of any furniture, electronics, cables, fragile items, building material etc or any other item that may create a hazard, block, or inhibit the installer from working, opening his ladder fully, or anything that could be potentially damaged in the course of the installation.

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It is the responsibility of the owners, customers, builders to move, cover or protect anything that may be damaged by the installer in the course of the blind, curtain or awning installation. Shade Collective Pty Ltd installers will not take any responsibility in any way if the customer has not taken adequate actions to protect their property.

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Owners, customers and builders must also provide a safe working environment for all installations. They are responsible for and are required to trim back any plants, hedges, trees or any other vegetation to provide a safe working environment for the blind or awning installer to safely open his/her ladder fully and place it on stable ground as well as to give the installer adequate room to access and work around the window where the blind or awning is being installed.

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When completing external installations, Shade Collective Pty Ltd installers will take practical care not to damage any plants but will not take responsibility if the vegetation is damaged due to them performing an installation in a manner they deemed to be safe.

 

HIDDEN SERVICES / HAZARDS

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In nearly all structures there are areas which will contain services that are hidden internally. These include cables, pipes, mechanisms, waterproofing's etc. These hidden services can not only present a real danger to the installer, but if ruptured or penetrated can cause extensive damage and expensive repairs.  Shade Collective Pty Ltd and its Installer/s need to be made fully aware by the owner/builder/foreman/architect or any designated competent person onsite  of where these services are located and provide very clear and specific instructions as to the exact fixing location and/or type and length of fixings that can be used. Shade Collective Pty Ltd and its installers will not take any responsibility whatsoever if the installer ruptures or penetrates a service which cannot be seen or was not advised about. 

 

COMMERCIAL PROJECTS AND SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENTS

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On most commercial projects, the builder will require the principal contractor to prepare a Safe Work Method Statement, otherwise known as a SWMS (pronounced SWIMS).

 

A SWMS is a document that sets out the high-risk construction work activities to be carried out at a workplace, hazards arising from these activities and the measures to be put in place to control the risks.

 

Even though many people may not deem curtain, blind or awning installations as a high-risk construction activity, this is an important safety document which must be completed prior to any installers commencing work on site. It is of the upmost importance to be aware of any hazards that may exist and how to avoid or eliminate them during the installation.

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Shade Collective Pty Ltd can assist and consult on preparing a SWMS document that is specific to the installation of window furnishings on a commercial site. We can help identify specific risks and put measures in place to reduce or completely eliminate them.