Different proj
ects are usually undertaken in different sectors and for a project to be successfully undertaken and completed, there is need for a proper Project Management Method. In particular, construction projects need a management plan that takes into account all the vital components that make up construction works. If you are involved in project management, you need to ascertain that your management plan is proper.
Under the Australian Project Development and Construction Management Act, you are required to incorporate project proposition, acquisition of land and modifications of existing infrastructure in your method. One of the most important method you can make use of is the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1984.
Under Australian law, the Occupational Safety and Health is a mandatory Project Management Method that you must put in place before you undertake any project. Since you will be managing a project on behalf of your employer, it is imperative that you have and implement a project management that incorporates Occupational Safety and Health. The Act requires the following of you as a project manager:
- Workplace safety – You need to ensure that the project work area is kept safe by removing all hazards that may pose risk to workers.
- Educate all your workers on the need to maintain a safe working environment by informing them on the procedure to follow in case of identified health hazard.
- Involve Occupational Safety and Health authorities at the onset of the project with the aim of assuring that all the necessary safety measures are in place.
- Provide your employees with the necessary safety equipments in form of clothing and other gadgets where necessary.
Under Australian law, just like in most jurisdictions, it constitutes a criminal offence to manage a project without Occupational Safety and Health measures. It is therefore very necessary to make OSH part of your Project Management Method. You should undertake the safety of your employees seriously as this ensures that the project proceeds with minimal interruption that may caused by unnecessary employee injuries.
You can enhance your method by employing the use of modern technology. In particular, you can make use of method software that eases the way of undertaking all the necessary matters pertaining to a project. You need to however ascertain that the software you buy is the latest version. Having a well-planned Project Management Method certainly ensures that your project proceeds smoothly with minimal interruption and competed in time.
There are Project Planning Tools that are essential to every well developed construction management plan and knowing what these tools are and how to use them properly is important. These Project Planning Tools are what you will use to develop your plan allowing you to be in compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
The first of the Project Planning Tools would be to know what the actual Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 act (OSHA) states as the requirements of an employer. Many times plans are put into place based on incorrect information of what the actual requirements may be. The plan may be based on doing things they way they have always been done, instead of being done with the correct requirements. The OSHA 1984 states that the employer is required to provide and maintain a safe workplace environment. The duties of the employer are spelled out very clearly regarding workplace safety:
1. Provide a safe workplace and don’t expose your employees to hazards
2. Give your employees the training and information needed to avoid hazards
3. Consult with safety and health officials regarding occupational health and safety at work
4. Provide your employees with the necessary safety equipment or clothing at no cost
5. Make sure that all your cleaning, disposing of materials, etc is done in a safe manner
In addition to the workplace safety portion of the employers duties, your Project Planning Tools also need to include the employers responsibility about the training they should be providing to their employees. If the employer does not strive to do everything practical to ensure the safety of their employee, there can be criminal consequences. As you can tell, your Project Planning Tools need to be very specific in developing your project plan. The safety of your employees is a very important issue and that is why there are so many regulations in place.
Another point of your Project Planning Tools would be assigning responsibility to the proper people that would be knowledgeable in each area of the plan. If you don’t have knowledgeable people in the right places to complete and maintain their duties of the project, the plan could very well be of little or no use. Knowing who you have employed at the worksite and knowing their skills and ability is very helpful with Project Planning Tools. You would not want to put someone who is a professional truck driver in the position of figuring out where the first aid kits are kept in the office. Too many times, the wrong people are used in the wrong place because plans were not completely thought through to the end.
In your Project Planning Tools you want to know where you want to end up and what the steps are that are needed to arrive with your completed project. Many times companies will decide to look for a professional to proceed with the Project Planning Tools they have put in place to complete a project plan that will be in compliant with the OSHA 1984 regulations.