Definitions

Activity Method Statement (AMS)

Activity Method Statement is a planning process to determine detailed methodology which breaks down and analyses individual WRA work elements).  Also referred in industry as Work Method Statement (WMS), Work Pack and/or Safety Activity Pack.

Barricade

Any object or structure that creates a barrier obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction.

Batter

A method of preventing the collapse of an excavation or trench, achieved by excavating to form sides that are inclined away from the bottom of the excavation.

Bench

A method of protecting workers from excavation/trench collapse by excavating the sides of an excavation to form one or a series of horizontal levels or steps, usually with vertical or near vertical surfaces between levels.

Competent person

A competent person is a person who has acquired through training, qualification or experience, or a combination of these, the knowledge and skills qualifying that person to perform the task required.

For competency for certain activities click here.

Effective communication

Effective Communication is a two-way information sharing process that includes sending and/or receiving a message that is correctly interpreted and acted on in a desired way. Communication methods may include (but are not limited to) visual, radio, verbal, face to face and hand signals.

Electrical Works Management Plan

A Management Plan that will provide a framework to assist in the identification and management of electrical safety risks. The plan will also define stakeholder responsibilities for electrical safety under the applicable legislation and provide assurance that electrical workers are utilising a system that demonstrates compliance with applicable legislation.

Excavation

Excavations include any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or movement or placement of soil or other surface materials by removing, boring or forcing objects into the ground or earth surface. Trenching, drilling, piling, driving rods or posts are examples of excavation where this procedure applies.

Exclusion Zone

A barricaded area which restricts access to person signed onto a risk assessment and familiar with the hazards located in the exclusion zone area.

Fit for purpose

When something is well equipped or well suited for its designated role or purpose.

Fitness for work

Encompasses managing elements of personal wellbeing that can affect work performance and safety. This includes fatigue, stress, and impairment due to prescription or non-prescription drugs, alcohol and the person's emotional state.

Flexible working arrangements

A type of work structure that alters the time and/or place that works is conducted on a regular basis.

Hazard

The potential for harm or damage to people, property, or the environment.

Hierarchy of Control

The model used to determine the treatment of hazards to mitigate risk.

The descending order of effectiveness of different types of control measures, for example, elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering control, administrative control and personal protective equipment.

High risk work licence

A High Risk Work License is a formal nationally recognised licence for plant or equipment in accordance with the appropriate State/Territory or Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Acts.

Line of Fire

The “line of fire” is the potential direction of load, rigging, plant and fixed object impact or crush hazard should a failure occur.

No-go zone

No-Go Zones are established to protect services from damage. Utility providers/asset owners generally have minimum approach distances or No Go Zones and other conditions which need to be complied with when working in proximity to their assets.

Occupational Hygiene

Evaluation and control of exposure from chemical, physical, biological and psychosocial hazards.

Positive identification of services

Positive location is defined as verifying the precise horizontal and vertical location of services and utilities through the actual exposure at a specific point. Exposure methods may include water jetting/excavation, vacuum excavation and/or soft dig methods.

Pre-lift start card

Worker pre-task situational awareness hazard identification card for lifting activities where the lift has been categorised as a low-risk category lift.

Risk

The probability and consequences of injury, illness or damage arising from exposure to hazards(s).

Risk Assessment

The process of analysing the probability and consequences of injury or illness arising from exposure to hazards and deciding whether the risk is acceptable.

Risk-based approach

When an activity is performed taking into consideration the amount of risk involved.  A risk-based approach serves to minimise the occurrence of incidents or injury from occurring.

Risk Management

The process of recognising situations that have potential to cause harm to people or property, and the act of doing something to prevent the hazardous situation occurring or the person being harmed.

Rolling Stock

Any vehicles that move on a railway.

Safe approach  distances

Safe approach distances are also called safe operating distances, working distances, separation distances and exclusion zones in different states.

This is the distance that must be maintained between people/plant/equipment/material and live electrical parts.

Safe System of Work

A safe system of work for electrical work is a comprehensive and integrated system for managing risks during the performance of electrical work and ensuring that when complete, the work is tested and proven to be electrically safe. 

A safe system of work may include an Electrical Works Management Plan, Electrical safety Management Scheme, Safe Operating Procedures and TRAs/Safe Work Method Statements.

Secondary protection devices

A piece of equipment which can be fitted to a Mobile Elevating Work Platform in addition to the primary guarding systems, and is intended to further reduce the risk of entrapment/crushing and/or provide an alert that an entrapment situation has occurred.

Shore

A structure such as a metal hydraulic, mechanical or timber shoring systems that supports the sides of an excavation and which is designed to prevent excavation/trench collapse.

Spotter

A competent person specifically assigned the duty of observing and warning against unsafe approach of the crane, its lifting attachments or its load, to electrical apparatus. In some jurisdictions, the spotter will be required to have successfully completed an endorsed training course.

Start Card

Worker pre-task situational safety awareness hazard identification card. Also referred to in industry as Step Back 5 x 5, Take 5 etc.

Stored energy

Stored energy is energy that remains in an object or system. If not recognised or managed correctly, stored energy can release suddenly and potentially cause harm. Stored energy has many forms, including pressurised gases and liquids, stored mechanical or electrical energy, as well as gravitational energy.

Task Risk Assessment (TRA)

Task Risk Assessment (specific task-based risk assessment which is facilitated by supervision and involves consultation of workers before the activity is undertaken). TRAs are also referred to in industry as Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Job Safety and Environmental Analysis (JSEA), Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), and Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) amongst others.

Temporary Work

Any temporary construction, other than normal plant and equipment, necessary to assist with or facilitate the execution of the permanent works and which is generally removed at completion and does not form part of the permanent works.

Verification of Competency

A method used to determine the ability of an individual to competently perform high-risk work or operate an item of plant or equipment safely. This is in addition to the attainment of any High Risk Work Licence (HRWL) and/or other qualifications.

Wellbeing

Workplace wellbeing involves promoting the happiness, mental and physical health of our people. Wellbeing is defined by our four Wellbeing elements: healthy minds; healthy bodies; healthy workplaces; and healthy relationships. Everyone has a role to play in upholding these four elements.

Wellbeing Champion

Wellbeing Champions are appointed by the Workplace Manager.  They are accredited mental health first aiders and support workers with wellbeing issues and concerns.

Working load limit

The maximum working load design by the machine manufacturer.

Workplace Risk Assessment (WRA)

Workplace Risk Assessment is a strategic risk assessment conducted on workplace and broken down into work components for the purpose of identifying system, training, legislative, and the identification of further detailed planning and risk assessment activities. Also referred to as Construction Risk Analysis Workshop (CRAW), Risk Registers, and Principal Hazards Management Plan (PHMP).

Zone of influence

The zone of influence refers to the volume of soil around an excavation that can be affected by any external load. The zone is usually measured as 45 degrees out from the bottom of an excavation however this may change depending on the soil type and weight of the material/vehicle.

Acronyms

AMS

Activity Method Statement

AOD

Alcohol and Other Drugs

AS

Australian Standard

DIDO

Drive in, drive out

EAP

Employee Assistance Program

ECP

Environmental Control Plan

EMP

Environment Management Plan

EPOD

Electrical portable outlet devices

ERSED

Erosion and Sediment

ESCP

Erosion and Sediment Control Plan

EWMP

Electrical Works Management Plan

FIFO

Fly in, fly out

HOC

Hierarchy of Control

HSE

Health, Safety and Environment

HSR

Health and Safety Representative

IMS

Integrated Management System

MEWPS

Mobile Elevating Work Platform

MHFA

Mental Health First Aid

OEM

Original equipment manufacturer

OHH

Occupational Health and Hygiene

OHLE

Overhead line Equipment

PER

Project Environmental Representative

PHA

Plant Hazard Assessment

PSOA

Portable socket outlet assembly

PTT

Permit to Tunnel

RCD

Residual Current Device

RIW

Rail Industry Work

SDS

Safety Data Sheet

SEP

Site Environment Plan

SME

Subject Matter Expert

SPDs

Secondary protection devices

SQERM

Safety, Quality, Environment Risk Management

SWMS

Safe Work Method Statement

TMP

Traffic Management Plan

TRA

Task Risk Assessment

TWC

Temporary Work Coordinator

UV

Ultraviolet

VOC

Verification of Competency

WAH

Work at Height

WCh

Wellbeing Champion

WCo

Wellbeing Committee

WFMR

Wellbeing and Fatigue Management Plan

WPC

Working Platform Certificate

WRA

Workplace Risk Assessment