AN170010 – Building and Construction Industry Award
(a) The employer shall comply with the provisions of the laws of the State concerning the installation and maintenance of guards for machinery.
(b) Suitable free asbestos sheets and/or coloured glasses shall be provided by the employer for the protection of employees working at oxy-acetylene or electric arc welding.
(c) Where electric arc operators are working, suitable screens shall be provided in order to protect employees from flash.
(d) The employer shall provide gas masks for employees engaged upon work where gas is present.
(e) Employees employed on refractory brickwork shall be x-rayed if they so require, at the employer's expense and in the employer's time, once in each period of six months.
(f) Employees working in tuberculosis hospitals and homes shall, if a request is made by them, be x-rayed, at the employer's expense and in the employer's time, on termination of employment at such tuberculosis hospital or home or each six months, whichever is the sooner.
(g) An employee shall not be required to use a roller in excess of 30.5 centimetres in width on the painting of ceilings or walls.
(h) An employee shall not raise or lower a swinging scaffold (other than a bosun's chair) alone and an employer shall not require an employee to raise or lower a swinging scaffold alone.
(i) An employee shall not be required to carry paint or other materials, the property of the employer, from job to job. By arrangement, brushes may be taken to and from a job by the employee. This provision shall not apply where paint or materials are carried to or from a job in a vehicle belonging to the employer.
(j) Painter's Washing Time
The employer shall provide sufficient facilities for washing and 10 minutes shall be allowed before finishing time to enable employees to wash and put away gear.
(k) No employee shall be required to use a paint brush exceeding 12.7 centimetres in width or 227 grams in weight or a kalsomine brush exceeding 20.3 centimetres in width.
(l) Hand protective paste - every employer of painters, signwriters, plasterers or glazier employees shall at the request of any such employee provide hand protective paste for the use of such employee.
(m) Spray Painting, Sand Blasting and Steam Cleaning
(i) Employers engaged in spray-painting, sand-blasting and steam-cleaning of surfaces shall provide for the use of every employee a suitable respirator or independent air-fed helmet of a type to be approved by the appropriate government agency. Such equipment shall be cleansed daily and shall be maintained in clean and efficient condition, and when not in use shall be kept under cover in a suitable place.
(ii) Employers shall also provide a supply of clean water, soap, clean towels and suitable overalls and/or wet weather gear for steam-cleaning and head coverings for the use of employees. Every employee engaged on the abovementioned processes shall wear suitable overalls and head coverings during the whole working period, and shall use the protective equipment provided by the employer.
(iii) Every employee engaged on spray-painting and/or sand-blasting processes shall be supplied with one litre of milk per day and all combination overalls shall be supplied by the employer and cleansed at the employer's expense.
(n) Where practicable, all loads of bricks and materials shall be conveyed in a wheelbarrow of an approved type, fitted with pneumatic rubber tyres.
(o) Where bricks are being used:
(i) not more than 40 bricks each load shall be conveyed in a wheelbarrow (on a scaffold) to a height of 5 metres from the ground;
(ii) not more than 36 bricks each load shall be conveyed in a wheelbarrow over and above a height of 5 metres on a scaffold.
(p) The loads, all classes of material and the type of wheelbarrow shall be agreed upon by the union. In default of agreement, the matter shall be referred to the Commission for determination.
(q) All scaffolding shall be in accordance with the Commonwealth or State law applicable.
(r) The employer shall observe the following procedures when employees are required to use toxic substances covered by subclause 26(k) of this award. Where there is an absence of adequate natural ventilation the employer shall provide ventilation by artificial means and supply an approved type of respirator and/or an approved type of hood with airline attached and in addition the employer shall supply protective clothing as approved by the Health Department; proper washing facilities together with towels, soap and a plentiful supply of hot water shall be available when required.
Where an employee is using materials of the types mentioned in this subclause and such work continues to his/her meal break, such employee shall be entitled to take washing time of 10 minutes immediately prior to his/her meal break. Where this work continues to the ceasing time of the day or is finalised at any time prior to the ceasing time of the day, washing time of 10 minutes shall be granted. The washing time break or breaks shall be counted as time worked.
(s) In all underground works and excavations where it is considered that the safety or health of employees is likely to be affected, the employer shall, when required by the union, arrange for an inspection by the appropriate authority.
(t) No employee shall be required to operate pneumatic rock drilling machines without adequate dust suppressing water flow.
(u) Laser Equipment
(i) Application
This subclause shall apply when laser equipment is utilised for work within the scope of this award.
(ii) Definitions
(1) 'Laser' shall mean any device excepting a Class 1 device which can be made to produce or amplify electromagnetic radiation in the wave length range from 100 nanometres to 1 millimetre primarily by the process of controlled stimulated emission.
(2) 'Laser Safety Officer' - or 'LSO' is an employee who in addition to his ordinary work is qualified to perform duties associated with laser safety and is appointed as such.
(iii) Control
The provisions of Australian Standards AS 2211-1981 and AS 2397-1980, both as varied form time to time shall be observed where laser equipment is in use.
