Site rules (construction)

Site rules are the written safety rules posted on a construction site by the principal contractor, covering site-wide expectations every worker, subbie and visitor agrees to as a condition of site entry. They typically cover induction, PPE, exclusion zones, smoking and alcohol bans, and incident reporting. Required for construction work above the state’s principal-contractor threshold (typically $250k or $500k).

What site rules cover

Induction: rules read and signed at the induction, confirmed on the sign-on register daily.
PPE minimums: hi-vis, boots, hard hats in zones, hearing/eye protection.
Exclusion zones: live electrical, crane radius, demolition area, confined spaces.
Smoking, vaping, alcohol, drug-impairment bans.
Vehicle speed limits (typical 10 km/h site, 5 km/h near pedestrians).
Incident reporting procedure.
Visitor sign-in and PPE provision.

Site rules are the rules every entrant agrees to.
SWMS are task-specific safe work method statements for each high-risk construction activity. One site has many SWMS, one set of site rules.
Site safety plan is the principal contractor’s overall WHS plan for the project (often a folder containing the rules, induction materials, SWMS, emergency plans).

The three nest: site safety plan → contains site rules + SWMS + emergency plan + incident records.

For a builder (as principal contractor)

Post the site rules where they can be seen. Site shed wall, entry gate, in the induction pack. Verbal-only rules don’t satisfy WHS posting requirements.
Update when work changes. New trade on site (e.g. demolition starts), new exclusion zone, refresh the rules.
Have entrants sign acknowledgement. The induction signature is the WHS-defensible record that the worker received and agreed to the rules.

Category: WHS / construction.

What site rules cover

Distinct from related WHS documents

For a builder (as principal contractor)

Related

See also

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