Safety Category

Technician conducting safety inspecting - roof anchor

10/10/2019in Body Corporate, Safety, Strata

Working at heights – How safe is your building?

HOW SAFE IS YOUR BUILDING FOR WORKERS AT HEIGHTS?

Whether it be 2 metres or storeys from the ground, YOU as a facility manager or person in charge of a business/undertaking have a degree of responsibility to ensure the safety of anyone who is working on the roof.

Yes that’s right. The Code of Practice under the Work Health & Safety Act Section 274 specifies that a person conducting a business or undertaking is a duty holder, and therefore must “minimise the risk of falls so far as is reasonable practicable by providing a fall prevention device, work positioning system or a fall arrest system“.

TOP REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT HEIGHT SAFETY

Myth no. 1 – The safety of workers at heights is not my concern, it’s the responsibility of the contractor.

WRONG! Managing the risk of falls at workplaces falls under one of the duties required by PBCUs – Persons conducting a business or undertaking. As well as the contractor, PBCUs must eliminate the risk of falls by providing a safe means of access.

Myth no. 2 – All subcontractors who work on my building are fully trained in working at heights.

WRONG! Not all tradesmen have had training and working at heights is high-risk activity. Always ask the service provider to show their qualification in working at heights.

Myth no. 3 – No need to worry, we’ve always had a fall protection system in place.

WRONG! All roof access systems must be routinely checked, maintained and RE-certified each year by a certified height safety inspector.

AND LASTLY,

Myth no. 4 – We don’t need to access the roof often.

You guessed it..WRONG AGAIN! The importance at safety in working at heights should never be underestimated. Safety must be a priority to provide protection against falls and you will need a method for controlling risks at height 2 metres or more.

Did you know..
In Australia, an average of 29 people die from work-related falls. 50% of the worst reported injuries happen from falling under 3 metres.

THEREFORE, IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU PERFORM A HEIGHT SAFETY HEALTH CHECK

Leisuretex tick Does your building/property have a height safety fail-safe system that is both, correctly laid out and compliant with the Work Healthy and Safety Act? Not sure? Get in touch with a Leisuretex Access Solutions Technician for an inspection.

Leisuretex tick Has your height safety system had a recent inspection and re-certification? Leisuretex organises height safety audits to ensure the safety of your workers. We will check your height safety system for compliance, and to guarantee that you are meeting your responsibilities.

Leisuretex tick Do you have work procedures for conducting work at heights? Is there a risk management system that you use to manage and control updated documents and installed height systems?

Leisuretex tick Are you familiar with WHS Act 2011 and Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice for managing risk of falls at workplaces? This lists your legal obligations and requirements regarding height safety.

Leisuretex tick Have you downloaded a copy of our Anchor Compliance Checklist for Building Managers which helps to identify height safety items needing action?

CONTACT A CERTIFIED HEIGHT SAFETY INSPECTOR

Leisuretex Property Maintenance height safety technicians are accredited to assess, certify and install fail-safe systems which meet the Australian Standards. We use the highest quality materials that are batch tested, dependable and give total peace of mind.

Leisuretex have offices in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, get in touch with us today.

06/03/2019in Safety

Concrete Cancer – Looking for signs and safety concerns

WHAT IS CONCRETE CANCER?

Spalling, or more commonly known as ‘concrete cancer’ is when the steel reinforcing in a concrete slab begins to rust and expand, therefore causing the concrete to become weak, crack, scallop and therefore fall away. The 3 key ingredients (elements) that cause this disease are water, iron and oxygen.

concrete cancer

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

Insufficient concrete to cover the steel reinforcement
Moisture reaching the internal steel, then combining with carbon dioxide and forming weak carbonic acid – a dissolving acid that breaks down the steel and therefore the supporting structure of the concrete.

IS IT SERIOUS?

Concrete cancer is potentially a serious problem and with most buildings having large expanses of concrete (consider balconies, unhoods and balustrade supporting hobs) that can become displaced, this will result in loss of strength and stability and even dislodged pieces of concrete falling. If not repaired, not only does this problem become a more expensive exercise but one that increases the risk of injury or death through falling concrete, collapsed balconies and the like.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR?

Just like a disease it isn’t always easy to spot underlying problems from the surface. Though there are some telltale signs that you might find:

Reddish or brown stains that are next to cracked or bubbled concrete
Concrete lifting and in a ‘scallop’ look
Signs of moisture coming through concrete cracks, you might see white crystal-like substance or efflorescence and salt laitance.

‘Scalloping’ can be a sign of spalled concrete.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX CONCRETE CANCER?

The primary aim of treating concrete cancer is to extend the life and durability of the building. This needs to be done with an appropriate paint system and regular wash down maintenance thereafter to prolong the life of the acrylic coating and remove excessive harmful salt build-up. It is very important that you use a licensed and experienced contractor that employs an effective remedial system which consider the following:

A proper diagnosis of the problem – a delap report
Preparation of the existing steel and concrete, possibly needing additional reinforcement to badly corroded steel.
Environment appropriate construction grouts and supporting products.
The curing process and specialist coatings required
Final finished profile looks as good as its original healthy state and is protected from further influences.

If you have concerns about the presence of concrete cancer in your building, you are welcome to give us a call at Leisuretex Property Maintenance Contractors. We are happy to have a chat over the phone or we can arrange for one of our specialists to come and visit you on site.

Leisuretex concrete repairs

Leisuretex Painting Contractors
1/3293 Logan Road, Underwood P: 3341 3403
9/443 Golden Four Drive, Tugun P: 1300 852 759

Leisuretext Painting Contractors

06/03/2019in Body Corporate, Commercial, Housing, Safety, Strata

3 Maintenance Solutions for Handling QLD’s Heat

The QLD summer heat can never be underestimated and as temperatures continue to soar each year we are choosing better alternatives for staying cool.

These suggestions below are proven methods for keeping cooler indoors while being energy efficient and possibly reducing your air-conditioning costs.

1. CHOOSE A WHITE PAINT (YES, IT REALLY WORKS)

By selecting a white paint or even light coloured neutrals this will make a dramatic impact on indoor comfort. Besides having a fresh, clean appearance white shades help to reflect the sun’s radiation and reduce heat gain by approximately 30%! It’s true.

Did you know?
New York has painted white over 6.7 million square feet of rooftop as a heat-fighting plan. Los Angeles has also painted its streets white to reduce urban temperatures.

2. GO GREEN

Probably the least expensive option, plants are natural coolants that absorb heat and even release oxygen to aid in lowering indoor temperatures. Spider, Ficus and Rubber are just some of the types of plants that help to purify air and keep cooler during the hot months. While potted plants on floors and shelves can add life to a space you could also consider green walls, facades and even roofs as a creative option.

3. APPLY COOL ROOF PAINT

The use of a UV resistant product such as Dulux AcraTex Cool-roof can be applied to roofs for a noticeable reduction in indoor temperatures. Since heat is absorbed by the roof and is transferred to the building below, it makes sense to reflect as much of that heat as possible in order to stay cooler indoors.

This can be done by having your licensed painting contractor apply a cool roof system to your exisiting roof. Surfaces that are suitable for this type of technology include concrete, tiles, bitumen, slate and colour bond. The result is a roof that now reflects more of the sun’s energy before it reaches indoors, bringing your roof’s temperature down to by 20-40 degrees.

To discuss having your roof made more cool efficient,
contact Leisuretex Painting Contractors on 1300 852 759 or
email us: enquiries@leisuretexpainting.com.au