AN170010 – Building and Construction Industry Award
(a) Conditions
(i) The special rates prescribed in this award shall be paid irrespective of the times at which work is performed and shall not, except where specified, be subject to any premium or penalty conditions.
(ii) This limitation does not apply to the all purpose special rates prescribed in subclauses (o), (p) and (ii) hereof.
(iii) Where more than one of the special rates provides payments for disabilities of substantially the same nature, then only the highest of such rates shall be payable unless otherwise provided.
(iv) In addition to the other rates in this award, the following special rates shall be paid to employees.
(b) Insulaton
An employee handling charcoal, pumice, granulated cork, silicate of cotton, insulwool, slag wool, limpet fibre, vermiculite, or other recognised insulating material of a like nature, associated with similar disabilities in its use, $0.61 per hour or part thereof. This extra rate shall also apply to an employee in the immediate vicinity who is affected by the use of such materials.
(c) Hot Work
(i) An employee who works in a place where the temperature has been raised by artificial means to between 46 degrees and 54 degrees Celsius - $0.49 per hour or part thereof, exceeding 54 degrees Celsius - $0.61 per hour or part thereof.
(ii) Where such work continues for more than two hours, the employee shall be entitled to twenty minutes rest after every two hours work without loss of pay, not including the special rate provided by this subclause.
(d) Cold Work
An employee who works in a place where the temperature is lowered by artificial means to less than 0 degrees Celsius shall be paid $0.49 per hour. Where such work continues for more than two hours, the employee shall be entitled to twenty minutes rest after every two hours work without loss of pay, not including the special rate provided by this subclause.
(e) Confined Space
An employee required to work in a confined space shall be paid $0.61 per hour or part thereof. ‘Confined space’ means a place the dimensions or nature of which necessitate working in a cramped position or without sufficient ventilation.
(f) Swing Scaffold
(i) An employee required to work from any type of swing scaffold or any scaffold suspended by rope or cable, bosuns chair, or a suspended scaffold requiring the use of steel or iron hooks or angle irons shall be paid the appropriate allowance set out below corresponding to the storey level at which the anchors or bracing, from which the stage is suspended, has been erected. Such allowance shall be paid for a minimum of four hours work or part thereof until construction work has been completed.
Height of Bracing |
Each First Four Hours |
Additional Hour |
$ |
$ | |
0 - 15 storeys |
3.55 |
0.73 |
16 – 30 storeys |
4.59 |
0.95 |
31 – 45 storeys |
5.41 |
1.10 |
46 – 60 storeys |
8.87 |
1.83 |
greater than 60 storeys |
11.31 |
2.34 |
(ii) PROVIDED that an apprentice with less than two years’ experience shall not use a swing scaffold or bosuns chair, and further provided that solid plasterers when working off a swing scaffold shall receive an additional $0.11 per hour.
(iii) Payments contained in this subclause are in recognition of the disabilities associated with the use of swing scaffolds.
(iv) For the purposes of this subclause:
‘Completed’ means the building is fully functional and all work which is part of the principal contract is complete.
‘Storeys’ shall be given the same meaning as a storey level in subclause 23(b) of this award.
(g) Explosive Powered Tools
An operator of explosive powered tools, as defined in this award, who is required to use an explosive powered tool, shall be paid $1.20 for each day on which the employee uses such a tool.
(h) Wet Work
Employees working in any place where water is continually dripping on the employee so that clothing and boots become wet, or where there is water underfoot, shall be paid $0.49 per hour whilst so engaged.
(i) Dirty Work
An employee engaged on unusually dirty work shall be paid $0.49 per hour.
(j) Towers Allowance
An employee working on a chimney stack, spire, tower, radio or television mast or tower, air shaft (other than above ground in a multi-storey building), cooling tower, water tower or silo, where the construction exceeds 15 metres in height shall be paid for all work above 15 metres, $0.49 per hour with $0.49 per hour additional for work above each further 15 metres.
(k) Toxic Substances
(i) Employees using toxic substances or materials of a like nature shall be paid $0.61 per hour extra. Employees working in close proximity to employees so engaged shall be paid $0.49 per hour extra.
(ii) For the purpose of this subclause toxic substances shall include epoxy based materials and all materials which include or require the addition of a catalyst hardener and reactive additives or two pack catalyst system shall be deemed to be materials of a like nature.
(l) Fumes
An employee required to work in a place where fumes of sulphur or other acid or other offensive fumes are present shall be paid an allowance which will be such rates as are agreed upon between the union and the employer; provided that, in default of agreement, the matter may be dealt with in accordance with the Dispute Settlement Procedure for the fixation of a special rate. Any special rate so fixed shall apply from the date the employer is advised of the claim and thereafter shall be paid as and when the fume condition occurs.
(m) Asbestos
Employees required to wear protective equipment (i.e., combination overalls and breathing equipment or similar apparatus) as part of the necessary safeguards as required by the appropriate occupational health authority for the use of materials containing asbestos or to work in close proximity to employees using such materials, shall be paid $0.61 per hour extra whilst wearing such equipment.
(n) Asbestos Eradication
Employees engaged in the process of asbestos eradication (defined as work on or about buildings, involving the removal or any other method of neutralisation of any materials which consist of or contain asbestos).on the performance of work within the scope of this award, shall receive $1.64 per hour worked in lieu of special rates prescribed in this clause with the exception of subclauses 26(c), 26(d), 26(f), 26(u), 26(y) and 26(gg) hereof.
(o) Furnace Work
An employee engaged in the construction or alteration or repairs to boilers, flues, furnaces, retorts, kilns, ovens, ladels, and similar refractory work shall be paid $1.30 per hour. This additional rate shall be regarded as part of the wage rate for all purposes.
(p) Acid Work
An employee required to work on the construction or repairs to acid furnaces, acid stills, acid towers and all other acid resisting brickwork shall be paid $1.30 per hour. This additional rate shall be regarded as part of the wage rate for all purposes.
(q) Heavy Blocks
(i) Employees laying other than standard bricks. Employees employed laying blocks (other than concrete blocks for plugging purposes) shall be paid the following additional rates:
where the blocks weigh over 5.5kg and under 9kg |
$0.49 per hour |
where the blocks weigh 9 kg to over up to 18 kg |
$0.89 per hour |
where the blocks weigh over 18 kg |
$1.25 per hour |
PROVIDED that this paragraph shall not apply to employees being paid the extra rate for refractory work.
(ii) Stonemasonry Employees
Stonemasonry employees not provided with mechanical means for the handling, lifting and placing of heaving blocks shall be paid the rates prescribed in paragraph (i) hereof.
(r) Cleaning Down Brickwork
An employee required to clean down bricks using acids or other corrosive substances shall be paid $0.44 per hour extra.
(s) Bagging
Employees engaged upon bagging brick or concrete structures shall be paid $0.44 per hour extra.
(t) Bitumen Work
An employee handling hot bitumen or asphalt or dipping materials in creosote, shall be paid $0.61 per hour extra.
(u) Plaster or Composition Spray
An employee using a plaster or composition spray shall be paid an additional $0.49 per hour whilst so engaged.
(v) Slushing
An employee engaged at slushing shall be paid $0.49 per hour.
(w) Dry Polishing of Tiles
Employees engaged on dry polishing of tiles where machines are used shall be paid $0.61 per hour or part thereof.
(x) Cutting Tiles
An employee engaged at cutting tiles by electric saw shall be paid $0.61 per hour whilst so engaged.
(y) Second Hand Timber
Where, whilst working with second-hand timber, an employee’s tools are damaged by nails, dumps or other foreign matter on the timber the employee shall be entitled to an allowance of $1.90 per day on each day upon which the employee’s tools are so damaged; PROVIDED that no allowance shall be payable under this clause unless it is reported immediately to the employer’s representative on the job in order that they may prove the claim.
(z) Roof Repairs
Employees engaged on repairs to roofs shall be paid $0.61 per hour; PROVIDED that in lieu of this rate roof slaters and tilers shall be paid in accordance with the following:
(i) An employee who works on a roof at a height at over 15 metres measured at the loading point of the tiles at ground level to the eaves, shall be paid $0.44 per hour.
(ii) An employee who is required to work on a roof at a height over 15 metres measured at the loading point of the tiles at ground level to the eaves and the pitch of which is over 35 degrees or over 40 degrees in lieu of being paid $0.44 per hour extra as provided in paragraph (i) hereof, shall be paid the sum of $0.61 and $0.89 respectively.
(aa) Computing Quantities
Employees who are regularly required to compute or estimate quantities of materials in respect of the work performed by other employees shall be paid an additional $3.55 per day or part thereof. PROVIDED that this allowance shall not apply to an employee classified as a leading hand and receiving an allowance prescribed in Clause 13 – Wage Rates of this award.
(bb) Height Work - Painting Trades
An employee working on any structure at a height of more than nine metres where an adequate fixed support not less than 0.75 metres wide is not provided, shall be paid $0.44 per hour. This subclause shall not apply to an employee working on a bosun’s chair or swinging stage. This provision shall not apply in addition to the towers allowance prescribed in subclause (j) hereof.
(cc) Grindstone Allowance
An allowance of $5.40 per week shall be paid to each carpenter or joiner where a grindstone or wheel is not made available.
(dd) Brewery Cylinders – Painters
(i) A painter in brewery cylinders or stout tuns shall be allowed 15 minutes spell in the fresh air at the end of each hour worked. Such 15 minutes shall be counted as working time and shall be paid for as such.
(ii) The rate for working in brewery cylinders or stout tuns shall be at the rate of time and one half. When an employee is working overtime and is required to work in brewery cylinders and stout tuns the employee shall, in addition to the overtime rates payable, be paid one half of the ordinary rates payable as provided by Clause 13 – Wage Rates of this award.
(ee) Suspended Perimeter Work Platform
(i) This allowance shall apply to employees engaged on construction work (including renovation or refurbishment work) performed on a suspended perimeter work platform (other than a swinging stage or bosun’s chair) which uses a mechanical, hydraulic or other form of propulsion (not being rope or cable suspended to relocate the work platform at different levels on the perimeter of a building or structure. An example of this type of system includes the Lubeca Façade System.
(ii) The allowance payable shall be $0.75 per hour and shall be paid in lieu of swinging stage and multi-storey allowance for all employees working on suspended perimeter work platform systems.
(ff) Certificate Allowance
(i) A tradesperson who is the holder of a scaffolding certificate or rigging certificate issued by the appropriate certifying authority and is required to act on that certificate whilst engaged on work requiring a certificated person shall be paid an additional $0.49 per hour.
(ii) PROVIDED that this allowance shall not be payable cumulative on the allowance for swing scaffolds.
(gg) Spray Application – Painters
An employee engaged on all spray applications carried out in other than a properly constructed booth, approved by the appropriate certifying authority, shall be paid $0.49 per hour extra.
(hh) Bricklayer Operating Cutting Machine
One bricklayer on each site is to operate the cutting machine and to be paid $0.61 per hour or part thereof while so engaged.
(ii) Hydraulic Hammer
An operator of a hydraulic hammer attached to an excavator shall be paid $0.82 per hour all purpose.
(jj) Employee Carrying Oils
An employee required by the employer to carry any fuels, oils and/or greases in the employee’s own vehicle for use in the employer’s plant shall be paid $8.20 per day in addition to any amount payable under Clause 45 - Fares and Travel Patterns Allowance of this award, for each day the employee is so required by the employer to carry such materials.
(kk) Pile Driving
Where a mobile crane in excess of 15 tonnes is required to perform pile driving at any site or installation, or is required to be involved in the extraction process, the operator shall receive a payment of $11.30 per day or part thereof.
(ll) Dual Lift Allowance
Where two or more forklifts or cranes are engaged on any lift the drivers thereof shall be paid $2.45 for each day or part thereof so occupied.
(mm) Stonemasons - Cutting Tools
If cutting tools are not provided the employer shall pay $0.05 per hour.
