The latest phase of WorkSafe’s ‘back to basics’ campaign has begun. This phase is all about having the right tools and equipment before you start a job. Here’s an introduction from WorkSafe Project Officer Andrew Malcolm.

Right tool for the job. It sounds simple but is it? Especially when one third of injuries involve work going wrong with tools or equipment.

But do tradies really get it? Or do they look at a job and think what they’ve got in the ute or van will do?

If that’s the case, tradies, subbies and builders have a legal duty to change this behaviour in our workforce.

You know the job and you know what is needed to do it. So take a few minutes and work out the best way the job can be safely done. It means the job doesn’t start until the right tools and equipment are available.

If everyone thought about how to do the job safely (especially those who quote on jobs) - instead of thinking which tools and equipment ‘will do’ – workers would stand a better chance of leaving the site in their ute instead of an ambulance.

So next time you work at a construction site stop, step back and think: What are the right tools for the job?