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Work health safety legislation and compliance apply at all times when constructing with steel. The following table outlines specific safety considerations when working with LGS framing and components. These need to be taken into account and managed prior to working with LGS framing, when conducting a site/job risk assessment and preparing Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS).

Work Activity/Environment/SourceHazardControl Measures
LGS - thin sheet steelSharp unrolled edges

Most component parts have rolled edges. For sections without a rolled edge:

  • Wear cut resistant gloves worn at all times.
  • Use hand over hand manual handling practice.
  • Adhere to safe work procedures.
  • Avoid sliding hands along sections.

 

Cutting and drillingMetal shavings and swarf, burns and sharp edges
  • Wear safety glasses at all times.
  • Use cut resistant gloves.
  • Wear long sleeves and  long pants. 
  • Direct hot swarf from griding or cutting to ground.
  • Never have hot swarf directed at other persons or windows or finished surfaces as they can be damaged. 
  • Have dust management on masonry cutting, drilling and grinding equipment. 
  • Apply good tool maintenance and regular blade replacement / sharpening of blades.

 

Hot parts after grinding or cuttingBurns, hot fly
  • Use cold cutting tools. 
  • Use metal only tools – no circular saw. 
  • Follow safe work procedures for cutting, grinding and drilling. 
  • Wear cut resistant gloves. 
  • Wear long sleeves and long pants. 
  • Wear safety glasses at all times.

 

Handling of long steel lengthsContact with overhead power lines, gantry
  • Ensure spatial awareness – “Look up and Live”. 
  • Risk assessment of site. 
  • Paired handling of long lengths along horizontal plane.

 

User of power toolsNoise
  • Work with noise dampened tools. 
  • Hearing protection should be worn at all times.

 

Angle grinderRotating blade/cutting disc
  • Ensure that safety design is built into the tool, e.g. in-built brake, paddler, dead man. 
  • Always follow safe work procedure.

 

A safe work method statement/s (SWMS) for light gauge steel should be prepared in accordance with the Safe Work Australia, Construction Work, Code of Practice requirements before any site work commences and for all construction sites. 

Completed steel framing (in any class of building) must be earthed by a qualified electrician as specified in AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules. 

Minimum PPE requirements are set out in state government legislation (worker health and safety) and principal contractor site requirements. There are a number of additional “best practice” recommendations when working with steel.

Suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn when working with LGS. A risk assessment should be conducted prior to working with LGS to identify risk hazards and determine the level of PPE required. 

Standard required PPE include:

  • Safety glasses and face shield when cutting, grinding and drilling 
  • Hearing protection when fastening, drilling, cutting and grinding 
  • Long-sleeved shirts and long cotton drill pants 
  • Suitable footwear 
  • Suitable gloves
PPE clothing

Glove ppe

This glove displays a rating of 4331B under EN388 where – 

4 = abrasion (min 1, max 4) 

3 = cut (min 1, max 5) 

3 = tear (min 1, max 4) 

1 = puncture (min 1, max 4) 

B = cut ISO13997 (min A, max F) 

Impact = P (Pass) or No Rating

EN 388 and AS/NZS 2161.3 refer to glove standards for protection against physical or mechanical risks such as abrasion, blades, punctures or tears. Gloves are commonly referred to by glove manufacturers based on cut rating. The cut resistance of a level 3 glove is usually referred to as safe for handling sheet metals. Always check the product labelling to ensure that your gloves meet Australian Standards and is suitable for use with LGS.

Finally, when handling steel frames, it is best to use hand over hand methods rather than sliding steel through your hands.

Electric hand saw
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