[Inside Cover Page – Blank]

Preamble
This Hazard Profile is a tool to assist in the identification of occupational health and safety
(OHS) hazards in relation to steel reinforcement fixing.

This tool is one of a series of Hazard Profiles developed by the University of New South
Wales School of Safety Science and Building Research Centre in support of the Construction
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU was signed in 1998 between the NSW
Government and the Chief Executive Officers of the principal contractors and major industry
associations in the NSW construction industry.

The signatories to the MOU have worked in partnership to implement measures to improve
the construction industry’s OHS and injury management performance.

The Hazard Profiles were developed following interviews with principal contractors and
subcontractors, which highlighted the accurate identification of hazards as a significant
weakness in the successful management of subcontractor safety.

Hazard Profiles can be used as a guide to help:

1. identify generic hazards and the controls required for a job task;
2. assist in formulating relevant and effective safe work method statements;
3. guide or induct new workers in the typical hazards for a specific trade;
4. check that all general trade specific hazards have been identified in safety documentation
required by the principal contractor.

Other products developed under the auspices of the Construction MOU include:

1. Subby Pack: OHS Contractor Management Tool

2. CHAIR: Safety in Design Tool
3. Hazard Profile: Identification Tool for Metal Roofing
Identification Tool for Electrical Hazards on-site
Identification Tool for Formwork
Identification Tool for Aluminium Mobile Scaffolds
Identification Tool for Bricklaying
Identification Tool for Concrete Placement
Identification Tool for Demolition
4. Supervisor Manual: OHS Training Tool
5. Safety Meter: Positive Performance Measurement Tool

Another valuable tool to assist small and medium-sized businesses to systematically manage
safety is WorkCover’s Workplace Safety Kit.

More information about each of these products can be obtained by contacting WorkCover
NSW on 131050 or www.workcover.nsw.gov.au.

Hazard Profile: Identification Tool for Steel Reinforcement Fixing Page 1

Hazard Profile – Steel Reinforcement Fixing
Job Activity What Can Harm What Can Causes Which Need to be
(Tasks) You (Hazards) Happen (Risks) Managed (Controlled)
General Inadequate Task specific • Insufficient skills
planning training, injuries due to (competency) to complete the
consultation, inexperience, required task.
planning and inadequate • Inadequate consultation with
improvisation. consultation or relevant employees.
failure to provide • Inadequate competent
appropriate supervision.
equipment. • Planning for required
equipment not carried out.
• Improvisation using
inappropriate equipment.
Planning by Insufficient Walk into objects, • Poor lighting provided to the
Principal lighting. slips, trips, fall & work face, especially in Slip
Contractor or other injuries. or Jump Form and other
Subcontractor enclosed areas.
(depending on • Access ways not suitably
contract defined or lighted.
conditions)
Poor access. Slips, trips and • Access to work area (the
falls; abrasions, deck) cluttered – poor
strains and housekeeping.
sprains; manual • Area around work area
handling injuries cluttered with stored
such as back materials and/or rubbish.
damage. • Inadequate access for steel
fixers and their materials.
• Deck incomplete, formwork or
other trades still working.
• Schedule accelerated -
concretors laying before steel
fixers complete deck.
Working at height Fall from the • No handrail or midrail or
with inadequate edge of the deck. inadequate strength in
edge protection. perimeter edge protection.
• Gaps in perimeter protection,
e.g. between screen or edge
scaffold.
• No catch scaffold provided.
Penetrations not Fall through • Penetration/s not covered or
covered. penetration. cover not secured forming
“trap”.
Formwork Fall injury due to • Formwork failure –
inadequate. formwork failure. structurally inadequate.
• Formwork not inspected.
General Exposure to ultra Skin cancer; • Personal protective clothing –

Hazard Profile: Identification Tool for Steel Reinforcement Fixing Page 2

 Job Activity What Can Harm What Can Causes Which Need to be
(Tasks) You (Hazards) Happen (Risks) Managed (Controlled)
planning by violet light, glare. sunburn, eye sunscreen 15+, shirt, flap on
steel damage. hard hat not provided or not
reinforcement worn.
subcontractor • AS rated sunglasses not
worn.
Eye contact with Concrete • No water to work area to
concrete or splashes or flush eye/s.
sawdust. sawdust flung • Eye protection not worn for
into eye. tasks where particles are
flung into the air, e.g.
cleaning sawdust off the deck
with compressed air.
• No PPE or incorrect PPE for
the required task.
General Walking on deck. Slip on wet ply or • Deck slippery due to sawdust
planning by sawdust on ply left behind by previous trade.
steel and fall; trip or • Deck wet.
reinforcement twist ankle or • Deck ply new.
subcontractor knee. Cuts to • Sharp edges on wire
ankles/shins. penetration covers not turned
down.
Hot weather. Dehydration and • Inadequate supply of cold
dizziness. drinking water provided to the
work area.
Manual Handling. Strains and • Insufficient manpower
sprains; injuries provided to undertake the
such as back required task, e.g. lifting of
damage. large diameter bars.
• No job rotation.
Lifting steel Lifting loads onto Serious injury to • Qualified (ticketed) Dogger or
reinforcement deck by crane. person/s from crane driver not used.
to the workface load being • No warning given to steel
lowered onto the fixers by dogger landing load
deck or onto the deck.
uncontrolled fall • Individual loads not inspected
of load. and cleared before lifting
commences, resulting in
short items not adequately
secured by slings.
• Dogger piggy backing or
doubling up loads using
varying length slings –
unslinging lower load while
upper load remains
suspended directly above.
• Slings not regularly inspected
and tested.

Hazard Profile: Identification Tool for Steel Reinforcement Fixing Page 3

 Job Activity What Can Harm What Can Causes Which Need to be
(Tasks) You (Hazards) Happen (Risks) Managed (Controlled)
• Sling capacity overloaded.
• Load not slung correctly, e.g.
long loads centre slung, loads
cradled or lifted using
straps/wires tied around steel
instead of using the correct
sling/chain.
• Stirrups and other small
components lifted in
inappropriate load carrying
container, e.g. 44 gallon drum
or similar.
• Dragging trapped slings out
from under loads using the
crane.
• Load strikes object, e.g.
structure, when lifting or
lowering.
• Communication error
between Dogger and crane
driver.
Sorting steel Manual Handling. Strains and • Steel not sorted requiring
reinforcement sprains; injuries double handling.
such as back • Steel dumped onto deck with
damage. no consideration to placing
requirements, e.g. bottom
steel not placed on top of the
stack.
• Steel for different areas not
easily identified, e.g. colour
coded with paint spots/bands.
Flakey steel. Cuts and/or steel • Steel flakey with splinters.
splinters in hands • No PPE or incorrect PPE for
or arms. the required task.
Sharp edges Cuts from • No PPE or incorrect PPE for
reinforcement bar the required task.
ends. • Suitably strong and flexible
leather gloves not available
or not worn.
• Shorts worn exposing lower
legs to injury.
Placing steel Manual Handling. Strains and • Two persons not used to
reinforcement sprains; injuries carry large diameter bars –
such as back insufficient manpower to do
damage. the job.
• Individual carries too many
bars at the one time.
• Constant bending over and

Hazard Profile: Identification Tool for Steel Reinforcement Fixing Page 4

 Job Activity What Can Harm What Can Causes Which Need to be
(Tasks) You (Hazards) Happen (Risks) Managed (Controlled)
pushing when placing steel.
• No job rotation.
• Levering or dragging heavy
steel into position.
• Manually lifting prefabricated
steel into position, e.g.
column cage.
Stuck by a piece Serious cut or • Other trades working on the
of steel. eye damage. deck when steel fixers are
placing steel.
• Other trades not aware that
steel fixers always look down
when carrying steel.
• Poor co-ordination when
carrying and placing steel.
Working near the Fall from the • No handrail or midrail or
edge of the deck. edge of the work inadequate strength in
area. perimeter edge protection.
• Gaps in perimeter protection,
e.g. between screen or edge
scaffold.
• Area around work area
cluttered with stored
materials and/or rubbish.
• No catch scaffold provided.
Penetrations or Fall through • Walking backwards when
steps in the deck, penetration or placing steel.
eg deep beams. into deep beam. • Planks not provided to cover
deep beams.
• Penetrations not covered or
cover not secured forming
“trap”.
Feeding the bar Jammed or • Beam or other over-designed.
into tight design crushed finger/s. • No PPE or incorrect PPE for
configurations. Hand caught the required task.
between steel. • Suitably strong and flexible
leather gloves not available
or not worn.
Walking over Slip on steel or • Shoelaces too long or not tied
steel. shoelace snags correctly.
on steel. Fall; trip • Steel wet or greasy.
or twist ankle or • Not watching feet when
knee. walking over steel.
• Steel reinforcement
sags/gives way – not enough
ties or chairs.
Cutting steel Operating electric Electric shock or • Electrical equipment faulty.

Hazard Profile: Identification Tool for Steel Reinforcement Fixing Page 5

 Job Activity What Can Harm What Can Causes Which Need to be
(Tasks) You (Hazards) Happen (Risks) Managed (Controlled)
reinforcement angle grinder or electrocution. • Extension lead faulty or
drop saw. damaged.
• Lead severed by angle
grinder disk or saw blade.
• Earth Leakage Switch not
installed on mains supply or
portable generator.
Cutting with angle Serious cuts from • Grinder disk or saw blade
grinder or drop contact with disk unguarded.
saw. or saw blade. • Guard faulty.
• Cutting disk or saw blade
damaged causing tool to
catch and jump.
• Cutting disk badly worn –
blade disintegrates.
• Wrong type of blade or
cutting disk used.
• Grinder not fitted with “Dead
Mans” switch.
Cutting steel with Fire and/or burns • No PPE or incorrect PPE for
Oxy Acetylene to the body e.g. the required task.
torch. arms and legs. • Hot cut piece not constrained.
Damage to eyes. • Long guns (extended
nozzles) not used for
constrained work areas.
• Damage to hoses or
equipment – stray spark
ignites leaking gas.
• No flashback arresters.
Sparks generated Fire causing • Work area not cleared of
when using angle burns. combustible material prior to
grinder, drop saw cutting.
or oxy to cut steel • Stray spark ignites clothing.
reinforcement • Damage to hoses or
equipment – stray spark
ignites leaking gas.
• Fire extinguisher not full or
adjacent to work area.
• Workers not trained in the
use of fire equipment.
Sharp edges on Cuts from • No PPE or incorrect PPE for
cut bar ends. reinforcement bar the required task.
ends. • Suitably strong and flexible
leather gloves not available
or not worn.
• Shorts worn exposing lower
legs to injury.

Hazard Profile: Identification Tool for Steel Reinforcement Fixing Page 6

 Job Activity What Can Harm What Can Causes Which Need to be
(Tasks) You (Hazards) Happen (Risks) Managed (Controlled)
• Low steel reinforcement, e.g.
column starter bars, not fitted
with caps.
Fixing steel Manual Handling. Strains and • Insufficient rest periods
reinforcement sprains; injuries between jobs.
such as back • Repetitious bending, twisting
damage. and cutting with nips.
• Longer handles not used on
nips to minimize pressure
required to cut wire.
• No job rotation.
Working near the Fall from the • No handrail or midrail or
edge of the deck edge of the work inadequate strength in
area. perimeter edge protection.
• Gaps in perimeter protection,
e.g. between screen or edge
scaffold.
• Area around work area
cluttered with stored
materials and/or rubbish.
• No catch scaffold provided.
Sharp edges on Cuts or puncture • Tie wire not bent in/down.
tie wire or bar wounds. • Soles on boots worn out - too
chair ends. thin.
• Tip on bar chair ends
missing.
Walking on the Slip on wet ply or • Boot gets caught between
deck. reinforcement steel reinforcement – different
and fall; trip or sized reinforcement occurs
twist ankle or over the work area.
knee. • Steel reinforcement
sags/gives way – not enough
ties or chairs.
• Trip over steel.
Twisting tie wire. Wire snaps under • Too much tension applied to
pressure of wire causing tie to break.
twisting. Nips • Working too fast.
strike face, teeth
or other.
Slip or Jump Manual Handling. Strains and • Two persons not used to
Forms sprains; injuries carry large diameter bars –
such as back insufficient manpower to do
damage. the job.
• Poor design of Slip Form
requiring the lifting of heavy
and long bars vertically over
top deck perimeter protection

Hazard Profile: Identification Tool for Steel Reinforcement Fixing Page 7

 Job Activity What Can Harm What Can Causes Which Need to be
(Tasks) You (Hazards) Happen (Risks) Managed (Controlled)
and lowering into vertical
walls in working deck below.
• Constant bending over and
pushing when placing steel.
• No job rotation
Placing large Drop bar from • Two persons not used to
diameter and height. Stuck by lower large diameter bars –
long bars in the falling object. insufficient manpower to do
walls of the Slip the job.
or Jump Form. • Lose grip on bar when
lowering – bar too heavy or
worker tired.
• Slip Form perimeter
protection on working deck
too low when lowering heavy
and long bars vertically over
perimeter protection from top
deck above.
Penetrations on Fall through • Ladder hatch left open or
working deck of penetration. hatch missing.
Slip or Jump • No wire mesh covering
Form. penetrations or mesh
temporarily removed for
access.
Poor Access. Slips, trips and • Access to work area cluttered
falls; abrasions, – poor housekeeping.
strains and • Top deck of Slip or Jump
sprains; manual Form cluttered with stored
handling injuries materials and/or rubbish.
such as back
damage.
Hot weather. Dehydration and • No bubbler provided on top of
dizziness. Slip or Jump Form or bubbler
not working.
Insufficient Walk into objects, • Poor lighting provided
lighting. slips, trips, fall & especially inside Slip or Jump
other injuries. Form or other enclosed
areas.

Hazard Profile: Identification Tool for Steel Reinforcement Fixing Page 8

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