Checklist: Duties of the Owner/Agent

Checklist: Duties of the owner/agent

Use this handy checklist to make sure you have completed all your responsibilities.

Responsibilities / Check
Has a person been appointed by the CEO to assist him in carrying out his health and safety duties and responsibilities (Section 16(2) of the OHS Act)?
Is a full copy of the OHS Act available on site?
Is the employer aware of his duties in terms of OHSA Section 8?
See section XXX
Are Section 37(2) agreements drawn up where required?
Are health and safety policy protocols formulated?
This is not a legal requirement but the Department of Labour could insist you develop one (OHSA Section 7)
Is the protective clothing and equipment adequate?
Assess the hazards and if you can’t remove or reduce them, issue protective clothing and equipment; and enforce the use thereof
Have you prepared health and safety specifications in advance for the principal contractor to refer to when formulating his health and safety plan?
Have you appointed a competent agent?
Is this appointment in writing?
Is the site audited monthly to ensure continued implementation of the health and safety plan?
Is work stopped if the site is considered unsafe?
Is the principal contractor notified if changes are made to the project?
Is the principal contractor registered and in good standing with COID?
Has the principal contractor made sufficient financial provision for health and safety?
Have you discussed health and safety plans with contractors before you grant approval?
Is a copy of the health and safety plan available on site?
Is the principal contractor competent to perform the work?

Checklist: 51 duties the main contractor must perform

Use this handy checklist to make sure the main contractor has completed all his responsibilities.

Responsibilities / Check
Is a copy of the OHS Act available on site?
Is the employer aware of his duties (OHSA Section 8)?
See section XXX
Are the employees aware of their duties (OHSA Section 14)?
See section XXX
Have health and safety representatives been appointed?
Are monthly health and safety committee meetings held?
Do employees report all incidents/accidents?
Are these then reported to the Department of Labour?
Are all occupational diseases reported to the Department of Labour?
Are all accidents properly investigated?
Have employees been informed of any hazards they may be exposed to, as well as the precautions to be taken?
Has health and safety induction training been given to all employees?
Have employees been instructed not to misuse any equipment provided for their health and safety?
Has sufficient protective clothing and equipment been provided?
Assess the hazards and if they can’t be removed or reduced, issue protective clothing and equipment. Enforce their use.
Has the Department of Labour been notified of the commencement of construction work?
Has a site-specific health and safety plan been drawn up?
Have contractors and sub-contractors been coordinated?
Have sub-contractors been given health and safety details and requirements?
Have sub-contractors been appointed in writing?
Are sub-contractors regularly audited on their implementation of the health and safety plan?
Is unsafe work stopped?
Are sub-contractors registered and in good standing with COID?
Have sub-contractors made financial provisions for health and safety?
Has a full-time, competent employee been appointed as the construction supervisor?
Is this competent employee appointed in writing?
Is there only one construction supervisor on site?
Has a health and safety officer been appointed where the size of the site requires it?
Is the approved health and safety plan kept in the health and safety file?
Has the competence of the health and safety officer been checked?
Have risks on site been identified?
Have risks been analysed and evaluated?
Has a documented plan for removing or mitigating risks been drawn up?
Has the plan for risk assessment been reviewed?
Is the plan for risk assessment monitored?
Is the risk assessment (part of the safety plan) kept in the health and safety file?
Are copies of the risk assessment available on site and available to all?
Have the health and safety committee or employees been consulted regarding the risk assessment?
Are all employees informed, instructed and trained?
Have sub-contractors been advised of hazards?
Has admission to the site been restricted to authorised persons?
Have all visitors received health and safety induction?
Does every employee keep proof of training on his person?
Has a fall protection plan been formulated and implemented?
Are inspections done regularly on the following:

Excavation work?

Demolition work?

Tunnelling?

Scaffolding?

Suspended platforms?

The boatswain’s chair?

The batch plant?

Explosive powered tools?

Cranes and load tests?

Construction vehicles and any mobile plant?

Electrical installations and machinery?

The use and storage of flammable liquids?

Welding, flame cutting and soldering?

Ladder safety?

Ramp safety?

Have the necessary precautions been taken to protect any water environment?
Is good housekeeping practised?
Is stacking and storage done safely?
Have the necessary fire precautions been taken?
Have construction welfare facilities been provided?
Has the legislation prohibiting intoxication been applied?
Have the required notices and signs been posted?
Are the required first aid equipment and people provided?
Have the safety rules for the following work been applied:

Confined spaces?

Elevated positions?

Where danger of engulfment exists?

Checklist: 49 duties of sub-contractors

Use this handy checklist to make sure any sub-contractors have completed all their responsibilities.

Responsibilities / Check
Is a copy of the OHS Act available on site/
Is the employer aware of his duties (OHSA Section 8 Of OHS Act)?
See section XXX
Have employees been made aware of their duties (OHSA Section 14 of the OHS Act)?
See section XXX
Have health and safety representatives been appointed?
Are health and safety committee meetings conducted monthly?
Do employees report all incidents/accidents?
Are these reported to the Department of Labour?
Are all occupational diseases reported to the Department of Labour?
Are all accidents investigated properly?
Have employees been informed of any hazards they may be exposed to, as well as the precautions to take?
Has health and safety induction training been given to all employees?
Have employees been instructed not to misuse any equipment provided for their health and safety?
Has the correct protective clothing and equipment been provided?
Assess the hazards and if they can’t be removed or reduced, issue protective clothing and equipment. Enforce the use thereof.
Has a site-specific health and safety plan been drawn up?
Have sub-contractors been provided with health and safety details and requirements?
Have sub-contractors been appointed in writing?
Have sub-contractors been audited on the implementation of the health and safety plan?
Is unsafe work stopped?
Are sub-contractors registered and in good standing with COID?
Have sub-contractors made financial provision for health and safety?
Has a full-time competent employee been appointed as construction supervisor?
Has an assistant competent employee been appointed in writing?
Have construction supervisors been limited to one per site?
Where the size of the project warrants it, has a health and safety officer been appointed?
Is the approved health and safety plan kept in the health and safety file?
Has the competence of the health and safety officer been checked?
Have risks on site been identified?
Have risks been analysed and evaluated?
Have documented plans for removing or mitigating risks been drawn up?
Do you monitor and review the plan for risk assessment?
Is the risk assessment (part of the safety plan) kept in the health and safety file?
Are copies of the risk assessment available on site and available to all?
Have the health and safety committee or employees been consulted on the risk assessment plan?
Are all employees informed, instructed and trained?
Have sub-contractors been advised of hazards?
Has admission to the site been restricted to authorised persons only?
Are all visitors provided with health and safety induction?
Does every employee keep proof of training on his person?
Have fall protection plans been formulated and implemented?
Have inspections on the following been done:

Form work and support work?

Excavation work?

Demolition work?

Tunnelling?

Scaffolding?

Suspended platforms?

The boatswain’s chair?

The batch plant?

Explosive powered tools?

Cranes and load tests?

Construction vehicles and mobile plants?

Electrical installations and machinery?

Welding, flame cutting and soldering?

Ladder safety?

Ramp safety?

Are flammable liquids used and stored correctly?
Have the necessary precautions been taken with water environments?
Is good housekeeping practised?
Is stacking and storage safe?
Have the necessary fire precautions been taken?
Are construction welfare facilities provided?
Has the legislation prohibiting intoxication been applied?
Are the required notices and signs posted?
Are the required first aiders and first aid equipment provided?
Are the following safety rules applied for:

Work in confined spaces?

Work in elevated positions?

Where danger of engulfment exists?