The VWA (formerly known as WorkSafe) have released a new guidance note on Safe erection of roof trusses  for the domestic construction sector.

The guidance note was prepared following a collaborative exercise between representatives of the Victorian Volume Home Builders Safety Alliance (VVHBSA), the VWA, Master Builders and the HIA.

Representative companies of the VVHBSA made a number of their sites available to look at safety practices when erecting trusses which helped to inform the thinking behind the content in the guidance note.

The guidance note should be considered in conjunction with the Code of Practice for Prevention of falls in housing construction and the previous guidance issued by the VWA on Fall protection for roof work. These three documents constitute a significant portion of the ‘state of knowledge’ in relation to prevention of falls for the domestic construction sector.

The checklist in the new guidance note is particularly useful and could be easily attached to a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) when truss erection activities take place. WorkSafe have flagged two key areas where SWMS should be produced in the guidance note including for the use of crane trucks and the actual erection of the trusses.

The VWA have also commented on the use of generic SWMS in the guidance note with a recommendation that generic SWMS should be reviewed and amended as necessary for each specific site.

Master Builders has two sample truss erection SWMS that members can use to create their own SWMS or to make available to their carpentry subcontractors.

For more information about truss erection, contact Master Builders on (03) 9411 4555.