High Winds

With the recent high winds we have seen in Auckland, there have been a number of incidents
involving structures being turned over, panelled materials sent airborne, Portaloo’s and
mobile scaffolds toppled.

Below is an example of an incident in West Auckland on Tuesday where the builder was fitting
out a new holiday unit. Luckily, he had gone to collect some fixings from his barn, he returned
to find the wind flipped the 3.5t building over.

NZ Herald posted an article Wednesday 18th September 2024 regarding scaffold and walls collapsing in Glen Innes back in May due to wind . This was due to walls being built up to 3m without being grouted. While this maybe something outside of your normal work scope, it is an issue that could affect you and your team and validates the importance of hazard reporting and site inspections, looking at all potential hazards and reporting them. Whilst it is the sort of thing that can go unseen for a longtime unless you are looking inside the blockwork, it is a reminder that these things can happen in a flash. Be mindful of other works around you, or if it is works within your control, make sure you have all the bracing or propping suitable for the task in place.

This serves as a good reminder to remain vigilant as these weather events can come very unexpectedly. Things that should be considered,

1. Ensure that a suitable risk assessment has been made for the specific work location, considering the risk profile of the location, taking into account the neighbouring areas.
2. Check weather forecast and conditions regularly and provide early warning communications to your teams.
3. Ensure all loose items are strapped down, particularly sheet items like plywood or Gib.
4. Wear eye protection to keep dust, debris and other foreign particles from blowing into the eyes.
5. Ensure hard hats are securely fastened and cannot be blown off your head.
6. If you are unloading material, place a suitably weighted item on top or re-strap in between lifts.
7. Remove any scrim from fencing if wind speed is forecast to increase to dangerous levels.
8. Halt works if wind speed increases to dangerous levels.
9. Ensure fences are braced and all base feet are perpendicular to the fence.
10. Ensure that all temporary buildings, signage, skip bins and portaloo units are weighted or strapped down securely.
11. Consider additional or more robust controls for open, coastal, or elevated areas more vulnerable to high winds. Extreme areas may need an engineered temporary works design to account for maximum wind loading.
12. After high winds pass, inspect the site for damage, loose structures, and debris before resuming work.
13. Regularly review the risk assessment controls to ensure these remain adequate.

If your team needs help with risk assessments or implementing these measures, please reach out. Staying proactive can prevent accidents and ensure everyone’s safety on site.