First Response Teams: Construction Site Emergency Management

Emergencies are unpredictable by their very nature. There’s no knowing when one will occur, and construction sites are particularly at risk. Legally, every workplace needs an emergency plan that outlines what employees and visitors should do in a crisis situation. Your emergency plan needs to cover a lot of ground, including how to respond effectively in an emergency, evacuation procedures, notifying emergency services and administering medical treatment. A first-response team makes a powerful addition to the safety of your site, strengthens your strategy and prevents an incident from spiralling out of control.

Compared to other industries, the Australian construction industry has a disproportionately high rate of workplace accidents and fatalities. The reasons for this are multifaceted: lack of training, inadequate safety equipment, poor focus on safety and long working hours, among other issues. Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of workers as much as practically possible, and adding an emergency first response team to your construction site is one of the best steps you can take for worker safety.

SSTC can protect the safety of your staff and the security of your site by providing a trained construction incident response team. With first aid and specialised equipment, we can rescue your team from hazards ranging from heights to confined spaces. Construction is a dangerous business, but you can still maintain a safer site with an SSTC first response team.   

Types of Emergencies on a Construction Site

Construction site work exposes employees to significant risks, with heights, heavy machinery, faulty wiring and uneven ground all posing significant dangers. Some of the most common kinds of emergencies on construction sites include:

Falls from heights

Working at heights is a leading cause of injury and death in Australia. Any construction work that puts employees at risk of falling two metres or more is considered high-risk construction work and requires a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS).

As a Person Conducting Business or Undertaking (PCBU), you must minimise or eliminate the risks associated with working at heights as much as possible. That means carrying out work on the ground or on a solid surface if you can. If that’s not possible, using a fall protection device (e.g. a safety net, barriers or scaffolding) is a useful safety measure.

Physical injuries

Accidents resulting in physical harm are common on construction sites. Falls from scaffolding, malfunctioning equipment and structural collapses are just some of the examples. Trench and scaffolding collapses are also common.

Vehicle collisions

The nature of the construction work changes constantly as the project progresses. Vehicles like dump trucks, supply vehicles, and overhead lifting equipment constantly come and go and manoeuvre around the workers and materials. It only takes a momentary lapse in concentration for a collision to occur.

Slips, trips and falls

A construction site is filled with buildings and structures in various stages of completion, which leads to various hazards and obstacles: holes in the ground, scaffolds and various materials and equipment. These factors raise the risk of an accident, especially when not properly managed.

Collapse

Partially built structures are at high risk of collapse, which is particularly true for excavations, trenches, and demolition work. Collapse can happen due to deficits in a structure's foundation and can result in serious injury or death.

Electrocution

Construction site employees often work near overhead power lines and cables, putting them at risk of contact with electricity.

The Role of a First Response Team

A first-response team is critical in preserving safety on your construction site. These trained professionals help protect the safety of construction workers, pedestrians, motorists, and others passing by. If emergencies occur, first responders often provide lifesaving care and first aid, handling serious injuries and administering care until authorities arrive. They’re trained to quickly assess the situation, use safety equipment, and deliver emergency care. Construction incident response teams draw upon their wealth of knowledge and training to quickly assess situations and provide the appropriate response.

While the title “first response team” rightly suggests these professionals are swift to take action, prevention and planning are just as much a part of their strategy. Risk assessment and management are essential factors in their approach, and a first response team can advise on the best ways to mitigate risks and help implement the right strategies for accident prevention. They can review existing safety procedures and modify them to meet the changing demands of a construction site, taking into account new risks that may emerge as the project progresses. They can also train workers in emergency response drills, familiarising them with evacuation procedures and meeting places. 

Implementing an Effective Emergency Management Plan

Planning is essential in an industry like construction, and an emergency management plan (EMP) is necessary. Your EMP must be tailored to your worksite and cover many bases in depth. This includes how to respond effectively in an emergency, evacuation procedures, help and medical treatment, training and instructions, communication protocols and when to notify emergency services. Your emergency plan may include essential contact details, how to alert people at the workplace to emergencies, where to find emergency exits and protective equipment, and what measures to put in place for the visually and hearing-impaired.

It’s important to tailor your emergency plan to the specific challenges of your workplace. Factors to focus on include the nature of your work, the hazards at your workplace, your size, your physical location, any external or environmental hazards, and legal requirements for your state or territory. Some practical considerations to include in your plan include equipment, evacuations, first aid and shutting down machinery. The higher the risk at your site, the more specific the details you may need to include: confined spaces, fall arrest harness systems, asbestos, hazardous chemicals, etc.

Effective First Response and Emergency Management with SSTC

The easiest approach to building the right emergency management plan and first response team is to call upon the SSTC team. SSTC can keep up with the changing industry safety standards and make sure your approach stays current and relevant. We also provide an emergency response team capable of handling even the most difficult and dangerous jobs. Fully accredited, highly trained, and capable, we provide swift and effective responses to emergency incidents, including but not limited to fires, floods, toxic accidents, confined spaces, and heights.

Plans and permits are essential for the safety of workers and those around your construction site. SSTC can help with all kinds of traffic and safety plans as well as help you procure the correct permits from the authorities. We create and develop Safe Work Method Statements, Risk Assessments and other required permits for working at heights, confined spaces and other risky areas.

A strong emergency first response team is important for any construction site. G10/RMS accredited and ISO certified, SSTC brings you over 25 years of combined experience. To find out more and to secure the safety of your site, contact the SSTC team for a free quote.