Safety Management in Construction: WGA Pty Ltd Case Study Analysis

This case study examines safety management within the Australian construction industry, focusing on an incident involving WGA Pty Limited. The report details the incident where a subcontractor was electrocuted due to the proximity of power lines, leading to significant financial penalties for the responsible contractor. The analysis highlights failures in adhering to safety protocols, including the lack of protective measures and inadequate supervision. The study reviews the literature on construction safety, emphasizing the need for investment in safety from the design stage, the importance of risk management, and the role of stakeholders such as the government, clients, and contractors in ensuring a safe working environment. The report offers recommendations for improving safety performance, including the use of barriers, proper training, and adherence to workplace health and safety guidelines to prevent future accidents and improve the overall safety culture within the construction industry.

SAFETY MANAGEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY 1
Safety Management in the Australian Construction Industry
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

SAFETY MANAGEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY 2
Safety Management in the Australian Construction Industry
Executive Summary
There has been a rise in safety issues being faced in the Australian Construction Industry.
The rate at which the hazardous environments are rising is significantly high. Several steps are
being undertaken to bring the incidents to an end. A reduction in the number of accidents will see
employees in the construction industry remain stable. The performance will expand gradually
with minimal regrettable cases. A case study is presented where a subcontractor was
electrocuted. The main mistake is that there was no protection by a nearby high voltage power
line. The result was that WGA Pty Limited, the responsible contractor, was charged 1 Million
United States Dollars to compensate the patient. The cost could have been avoided if the proper
safety measures had been observed. An analysis has been given on the safety measures not
observed before the accident. Some of the safety procedures were skipped. One of the strategies
to deal with the issue was to ensure sufficient investment. The same has to be done from the
design stage, ensuring that all stakeholders have invested in the safety steps. The method would
lead to barriers set around the power lines. The overall result would have been zero accident case
on that day. Hence, a reduction in the number of construction industry accidents.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Literature Review......................................................................................................................4
Case Description.........................................................................................................................6
Case Analysis..............................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
The Australian Construction Industry has been faced with several safety issues. There
have been rising cases where the safety system in the construction industry was compromised.
For a construction industry to be termed as safe, all the possible hazards predicted to occur
within site have to be defined. Apart from that, management measures have to be set that will
ensure all the risks are appropriately managed. There should be a formal risk management
procedure; the step will ensure awareness of all stakeholders. In addition to that, risk
management levels will rise to acceptable standards. Through the paper, a case study of a
construction industry incident has been well described. It presents the real picture of failure in
observing construction safety measures. From the case study, one will develop a deeper
understanding of the construction industry status in Australia. It involves the legal and regulatory
systems which, have been set, but their implementation is not appropriate. As a result, further
measures have been recommended to ensure that the risk incidents are minimized. Some of them
include presenting reports on the safety performance of a given site frequently. Apart from that,
the safety management teams have to be contacted in less than an hour after an accident.
Literature Review
The construction firms have an average number of ten employees per every construction
site (Walker, 2015). The data demonstrates the need for stringent measures be taken to ensure the

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safety of workers. More resources have to be directed in the safety department in this industry.
The measure will ensure that the set safety programs are implemented with zero interferences of
defined procedures. Safe job site will reduce the number of losses incurred as a result of
accidents. The insurance rates will also be lowered with a reduced number of accidents being
experienced. The reduced accidents will further promote a smooth flow of construction works.
Uninterrupted construction will call for more emphasis be done on the safety of the employees of
a given company (Mik-Meyer, 2016).
After extensive research, several strategies have been associated with impacting
employee safety measures positively. The use of Building Information Modelling at the design
stage has been recognized for its excellence in doing a proper cover-up of safety. The model
offers multiple opportunities that allow protection to be improved. Apart from that, the set
measures ensure that the contractor is well involved in the project before onset. The involvement
is critical in enhancing safety at the site. Increased use of mobile devices in construction is also
believed to promote safety. Smartphones have proved to be excellent in communicating safety
measures to employees of a given site (Li and Lin, 2017). Implementation of on-site training is
also an additional measure which, promotes construction safety. Education has been considered
as the most valuable in pushing for a specific practice to be implemented in a site.
Apart from the strategies, several factors have been associated with encouraging the
adoption of safety practices. Financial incentives are the primary factors that motivate safety at a
given construction site (Ghasemi et al., 2020). Apart from that, concern for workers while
making investment decisions is also vital in influencing the safety at a given work site. There is a
need for all contractors to show interest in their employees. Hence, make a wise decision that
eliminates strenuous working.

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Case Description
A residential construction being done in Sydney by WGA as the principal contractor
needed to be installed with windows. WGA Pty Limited approached Christopher Cullen and
subcontracted the task to him (Owen, 2018). The construction of the apartments was done near
powerlines running across King Georges Road in South Hurstville. Sydney Trains were the legal
owners of the upper powerlines that conducted high voltage power of about 33000 volts. Mr
Cullen stood on a window ledge on June 19, 2014; this was part of the working procedures
needed to install aluminum angles to the outside. Unfortunately, the 2.7 meters angle that Mr
Cullen hold either came in contact or close proximity with the running high voltage power lines.
The result was that he suffered a severe electric shock. The witnesses around then suggested that
he appeared to be on fire after the electrocution. The force from the blow threw him backwards
on the scaffolding. He was, however, lucky as he did not succumb to the shock. He instead
suffered burns to 30 per cent of the entire body. There was a need for him to be served with
extensive medical treatment in addition to rehabilitation to ensure that he can recover. After fully
recovering, the scars interfered with his capabilities to return to work (Titterton, 2017).
After a court battle, a landmark decision was made that led to the company been fined a
total of 1 million United States Dollars. The main charge was that they failed to abide by
Workplace Health and Safety guidelines. The electrocution is said to occur as a result of
significant breaches of the safety procedures. The subcontractor had also been exposed to a risk
of sudden death or sudden injury. On the other hand, the moral liability associated with the
employer was high, citing the disregard of stated safety obligations. Exclusion lines were to be
present that could stop any person from coming within a 3m- distance of the power lines. The
contractor did not observe the measure and left an open area to be visited at any time. The

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principal contractor, in March 2014, laid claims to the Work Health Safety Inspector that he was
not a builder. He cited the site as the first construction work to be undertaken. The many
commitments could, therefore, not allow him to register his presence at the works all the time. At
the time of the accident, he communicated that he had left the place to attend to a business and
could not do the supervision (Eager, 2017).
As per the inspector, all workers around the power line were prone to danger. It will only
need them to pick materials, for example, the scaffolding that did have that length. The materials
will quickly come in contact with power lines as soon as the worker turns around. The busy
construction workers pay little concentration on such safety measures, and they would hardly
remember when they are exposing themselves to danger. The condition of work explains the
reason as to why physical and visual barriers will be needed. The measure has to be stressed in
cases where the contractor is not on-site, and work has to progress. The tiger tails that were
provided are not the appropriate protective measures. Apart from that, they are not tailored to
offer protection against electrocutions (Smith, 2017).
Case Analysis
Most accidents occurred when a safety procedure was skipped or rather a failure to heed
to given working instructions. Before construction commences, inspections are done by safe
workers from the National Safety Work. WGA Pty Limited had been working in conjunction
with the National Safety Works. However, it seems that not all stipulated measures were
implemented accordingly. Before the incident, a safe worker from the National Safety Works
had visited the industry and notified an improvement to be done on the working method (Reason,
2016). The notification was in line with external scaffoldings which, could be dangerous without
ensuring that the user is put 3 meters off the high voltage upper powerline.

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After an accident, several costs are incurred. The expenses are related to the injuries the
personnel working at the site suffer. They will have to undergo medication which attracts
medical bills (Haupt and Pillay, 2016). WGA Pty limited incurred several costs on the
occurrence of the accident. There were bills to cover the extensive medical requirement needed
for the recovery of injured patients. Apart from that, there was the court fine that amounted to 1
Million United States Dollars. It was the largest fine imposed on any case of construction safety
then.
Safety investments are an essential factor that has to be considered before the beginning
of construction works. Industries have to come to their realization that embracing extraordinary
safety measures will play a significant role in ensuring that they grow in their level of being
competitive. The image of a given corporate, a factor influencing competitiveness, will be
improved. Besides that, perception in regards to the company will remain positive (Damodaran,
2016). WGA Pty limited should have escaped the fines if they had invested on safety. Proper
investment means a supervisor would have been present to ensure that each person observes the
measures.
The designers can significantly enhance safety at construction sites at the design stage of
the works. While designing a construction site, all the safety risks have to be well stated. Hence,
each person will be informed, and possible measures done to ensure that they avoid any possible
accident. Apart from that, unavoidable risks have to be well evaluated. The analysis will keep
each person ready for such kind of risks. Identification of the source risk, a significant bit to be
done at the analysis stage, should be done appropriately. Compartment measures have to follow
after that (Kramer-Smyth, 2019). These measures were not put into place when Christopher

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Cullen visited the WGA Pty Limited construction site. As a result, he was not conversant with
the possible risks facing him.
The different stakeholders involved in a construction site are vital in ensuring that set
safety measures are observed fully. The government, being one of the stakeholders, has to be
involved. They come up with policies and regulations to govern the construction industry. They
will also legislate a particular requirement and impose pressure to ensure that the suggested
measures are well implemented. The clients, responsible for commissioning activities at the
construction site, have to also play their role in pushing for safety at the construction site (Li,
2019). They need to come up with criteria promoting a Health and Safety culture through the
period the project will be done. The contractors, on the other hand, have to ensure that the
network of environment provided is free from hazards known for causing injuries and deaths. In
the Sydney case, the government played a significant role. The client, on the other hand, had no
control over the method of construction the contractor would embrace. WGA Pty Limited, failed
by not providing a hazard-free environment.
Some of the accidents in construction work occur despite safety measures being set by
the respective stakeholders. However, certain barriers come into place that interfere with smooth
working. Safety work measures is well implemented when each person sticks to the roles and
responsibilities assigned to them. However, the tendency where people get confused about what
they are to do at the site will generally lead to a backlash of the set safety system. The need to
uphold precise positions from the start of the working will enhance the smooth operation of the
system. Proper infrastructure has also to be provided that will ensure the needed safety. The
building work is not an overnight task; it will take continuous strategizing, which demands
variation of resources. There are cases where one will be needed either to scale up or down its

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employees; a step that will ensure all safety measures are observed. Transitions are prone to take
place when the project is still in progress. The transition plan has to be clear, ensuring that
necessary updates on the development are given. Most contractors fear the cost of infrastructure,
leading to health and safety-related accidents on construction sites (Zenyu, 2015). WGA Pty
limited, being a contractor, feared the loss of scaling up its employees.
Safety in construction can be implemented best by embracing a culture in safety
practices. The culture starts when the employer has to themselves observe the set safety
measures. WGA Pty Limited was obligated to observe the safety measures by first ensuring that
a supervisor was at the site always. The other employees were to embrace the culture by sticking
to any set rules within site (Xianguo, 2015).
Appropriate implementation of safety measures will require the respective contractors to
embrace excellent leadership skills. As a leader, one should identify critical positions. These are
the areas that will need to be attended with urgency. The area around the power lines was the
most vital. Proper leadership would require the contractor to take appropriate measures in that
regard (Clough, Sears and Segner, 2015).
Risk assessment, a part of excellent leadership skills, primarily involves pointing out the
possible hazards of health and safety at a given construction site. One has to first check out for
possible factors that can hurt them or their workers. The employer will, after that, decide on the
next step in regards to the danger. The measures have to be properly written down, and
communication be done to all workers (Di and Dai, 2015). The National Safety Works
recognised the danger in Sydney construction site however, the contractor could neither
communicate nor follow the same by themselves.

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Several measures have to be taken to prevent a safety accident at a construction site. At
the onset of construction works, safety training has to be offered to all employees. Apart from
that, frequent crew safety meetings have to be held. If the risks are high, the meetings should be
held daily (Borman and Kornig, 2018). WGA Pty limited had few employees and could not hold
such meetings. The safety risks rose significantly, leading to the accident at long last.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has played a significant role in
ensuring that safety training is done excellently. They have published several resources that can
be used in construction works to train employees. Standard security and safety practices have
been well explained in the printed materials. Apart from the worksheets, there are also videos to
enhance understanding (EÇEN and AYBERK, 2018).
The safety initiatives become more productive with the involvement of workers. As an
employer, one has to take action and motivate all the employers to participate in the program.
They also have to be given time and resources to join. Apart from that, acknowledge the positive
reinforcement shown by those who are participative. Those report any concerns in regards to
health and safety have to be recognised. The action will motivate them to observe the measures
at all times (Yi and Li, 2020).
Conclusion
Most accidents in construction sites occur after safety measures have been skipped.
Observing the measures contributes significantly to minimizing the costs incurred from the
accidents. Properly avoiding the cost will need one to invest in safety at the onset of construction
works. All possible risks have to be evaluated by the designers and extraordinary measures be set
on how one can go about them. The different stakeholders involved in construction have to come
on board. They will help push for implementation of these measures. Among them is the

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government, the client, the contractor, the subcontractor and the labourer at the site. The leaders
will lead the team in assessing possible risks and come up with strategic measures to curb the
risks. One step to be implemented is the need to exercise safety training at the site. Workers have
to be fully involved in the different sessions. The result will be that all persons will leave the
construction sites safe and sound.

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