Construction Work - Tilt-up and Precast concrete

Tilt-up wall panels and precast concrete construction is where concrete structures are processed ahead of their intended use and erected as part of a structure by lifting them by crane into their final position.

The regulations covering construction work are contained in Part 12 of the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standards) Regulations 1994.

Hazards associated with tilt-up and precast concrete structures

In addition to the hazards associated with construction work, tilt-up wall panels and precast concrete elements are in themselves hazardous and pose a significant risk at all stages of the construction process.

Specific hazards are associated with each stage of the concrete element construction work. That is; the design, prefabrication, handling, transport, storage, erection and temporary bracing, cranage, fixing to the structure and during modification and demolition.

Specific hazards include:

• site features such as slopes, holes etc.;
• working near overhead power lines;
• exposure to weather conditions;
• working at heights;
• manual handling;
• working with hazardous substances; and
• traffic at or near the site

Risks associated with tilt-up and precast concrete structures 

Workers in the construction industry are three times more likely to suffer a fatal accident and one and a half times more likely to suffer an injury than other workers in all other sectors of the Australian workforce. The consequences of an uncontrolled collapse of a concrete wall panel is serious injury or death and therefore the risk assessment and subsequent controls must be comprehensive at every stage of the work process.

The types of injuries likely to be sustained from uncontrolled collapse of a tilt-up wall panel are severe crush injuries. The severity of the injury resulting from such a collapse is so significant that prior planning is essential.

The general type injuries that are associated with construction apply here and include body stressing injuries, exposure to the weather elements and falls from heights.

Employer’s Duties

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 (the Act) employers are required to provide and maintain, as far as is practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to health.

To ensure that the risks are managed in accordance with the duties under the Act, employers should systematically manage the risks to health and safety that arise from working with tilt-up wall panels and precast concrete elements.

Employers can systematically manage risks by undertaking the following four-step risk management process:

1. identification of the hazards;
2. assessment of the risks associated with the hazards;
3. control of the identified risks; and
4. review of the process

When undertaking risk management, employers must follow the relevant Commonwealth regulations and give consideration to codes of practice. If no regulation or code exists in relation to a specific hazard or risk, employers should choose a reliable source of guidance to follow.

Relevant Commonwealth Regulations

Part 12 of the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standards) Regulations 1994 set out mandatory requirements for construction work primarily by placing duties on the employer in control of the workplace. Tilt-up wall panels and precast concrete work is defined as high-risk construction work under the regulations and further mandatory requirements are set out for the prevention of injury for such work.

High-risk construction work requires employers in control of a construction project to, in addition to the general duties, identify particular areas of risk, implement management plans, obtain safe work method statements and ensure that they are followed throughout the work activity

The manufacture, transport, cranage, storage and erection of panels at construction sites must be carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of Australian Standard (AS:3850).

Other parts of the regulations may also apply to this type of construction work such as:

• Part 2 Competency Requirements and certification Standards for Users and Operators of Industrial Equipment
• Part 3 Occupational Noise
• Part 4 Plant
• Part 5 Manual handling
• Part 6 Hazardous substances
• Part 10 Electricity
• Part 13 Falls from 2 metres

Relevant Commonwealth Codes of Practice

In particular, the Occupational Health and Safety Code of Practice 2008:

• Part 1 - Risk Management
• Part 3 - Noise
• Part 5 - Vibration
• Part 12 - Hazardous Substances
• Part 19 - Ultraviolet Radiation in Sunlight
• Part 23 - Construction Induction Training

Other Guidance Material

These Australian Standards are available from International Standards online at SAI Global:

Further Information

For further information about this fact sheet, or others in the series, please contact Comcare on the general enquiry line 1300 366 979 or e-mail OHS.Help@comcare.gov.au.

Page last updated:June 13, 2008