Working at ACT Health controlled workplaces as a contractor
This page is for contractors who work on sites managed by ACT Health. This includes people doing cleaning, construction, electrical work, plumbing and surveying. It explains some of the rules that you need to follow in the workplace.
You can find out more in your:
- contract
- agreement
- work order
- quote or booking request
- risk assessment
- work health and safety management plan.
Contractor duties
Take care of your own health and safety.
Make sure that your actions do not threaten the health and safety of others.
Follow work health and safety (WHS) policies and procedures.
Comply, as far as you are able, with any WHS instruction:
- work in your areas of WHS competence
- care about the workplace and keep it well organised
- look out for other workers and report hazards as soon as they happen
- report safety incidents and injuries
- raise any WHS concerns with your manager or a health and safety officer.
Induction
You must complete a work health and safety induction before starting work.
Your induction is specific to the site you are working at.
Your induction will be run by:
- your ACT Health contact officer
- a safety contact officer for the workplace
- a contractor site manager who knows the workplace safety requirements.
If you will be working in a laboratory area, you must complete an extra safety induction.
Work health and safety procedures
Follow the requirements written in your contract, agreement or work order.
Do not start work until you have an approved Disturbance or Interference with Services, Safety, or Traffic Form.
If your work affects fire and evacuation systems, do not start work until you have an approved Fire Protection System Impairment Permit.
Tell ACT Health about the scope of work and any risks to people at or near the workplace.
Work according to:
- standard operating procedures
- manufacturers or supplier’s instructions
- work health and safety regulations for the maintenance of plant and equipment.
Supply and use proper personal protective equipment.
Stay away from the workplace if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.
Follow ACT Government rules on smoking, alcohol and drugs.
Tell your ACT Health contact officer about all safety incidents and injuries.
Make it clear who has control of a workplace at every point in a contracted process.
Handover the site to ACT Health staff when work has finished.
Construction and maintenance
Construction means any work done to a structure or building that involves:
- construction
- alteration
- conversion
- fitting-out
- commissioning
- renovation
- repair
- maintenance
- refurbishment
- demolition
- decommissioning
- dismantling.
When doing construction work make sure that:
- safe work method statements and high-risk work licences are in place
- all workers have completed construction industry induction training.
Prepare a WHS management plan for construction work valued at $250,000 or more.
Only do high risk construction work according to safe work method statements.
Interruptions to building services
Tell ACT Health about any interruption to services, including electrical supply.
Tell your ACT Health safety contact if you need to isolate electrical circuits. Make sure that the safety contact has told all affected people.
Permits, licences and work protection
Complete Confined Space Entry or Hot Work Permits when required by safety procedures and WHS Regulations.
Make sure that workers hold the correct licence or competency:
- for high risk work
- to operate plant and equipment.
Do not work on live electrical equipment unless you have met the requirements of the WHS Regulation.
Maintain barriers and separation distances to protect other people who are near the work.
Put risk controls in place when work will affect other people, for example by creating dust or noise.
Hazardous chemicals and dangerous substances
If you bring hazardous chemicals or dangerous substances to a site:
- tell your ACT Health contact officer
- provide safety data sheets and safety procedures when asked.
Do not disturb asbestos containing materials. You can get an asbestos management plan from your ACT Health contact officer.
When cutting material containing silica you must:
- comply with safety requirements
- supply a constant feed of water over the cutting area.
Security, storage and amenities
Get approval to store any plant, equipment or supplies on site.
Manage deliveries to the workplace with your ACT Health contact officer.
Maintain the security of the workplace:
- follow security instructions
- keep keys and passes secure
- report any losses
- keep access points secure
- return keys and passes before leaving the site.
Make sure that restricted areas are secure at all times. Restricted areas include:
- plant rooms
- electrical cupboards
- laboratories.
Keep toilets and kitchens clean and in working order.
Park vehicles in approved locations only.
First aid
First aid officers and first aid kits are available in ACT Health workplaces.
Businesses doing construction and maintenance work must provide first aid for their workers.
Automated external defibrillators
Automated external defibrillators are available in ACT Health workplaces. Defibrillators diagnose and treat cardiac arrhythmias. Your ACT Health contact officer will show you where they are.
A defibrillator will not operate unless it detects a condition that needs defibrillation. Once turned on it will tell you what to do.
Anyone can use a defibrillator if someone is having a heart related problem, such as chest pain.
Emergency management plans
ACT Health workplaces have emergency plans and evacuation diagrams. They show the location of:
- exits
- assembly points
- fire equipment.
You can ask your ACT Health contact officer to give you a copy of the workplace emergency plan.
If there is a fire or other emergency, you must follow announcements and alarm tones. Wardens will also tell you what to do.
Fire and emergency systems will operate automatically outside of business hours.
More information and help
Download the ACT Health Work Health and Safety Policy [PDF 365 KB].
Go to the ACTPS Employment Portal to read the ACTPS Managing Work Health and Safety Obligations with Contractors Policy.
Email HDHR@act.gov.au
ICT standards
ACT Health has 14 approved ICT standards. These standards apply to all ACT public health system sites, unless exempted.
You must follow ICT standards and procedures when working at ACT public health system sites.
ICT standards and procedure documents
- ACT Health Comms Room Patch Lead Colours Chart [PDF 620 KB]
- ACT Health-DSD ICT Scope Specifications-General [PDF 1 MB]
- Canberra Health Services - Critical Non Clinical Systems [PDF 460 KB]
- Communications Room, UPS Room and General Room-Ward Inspection Hold Points [PDF 600 KB]
- DSD Core ICT Project Milestones [PDF 500 KB]
- High Level Vendor Design Template [PDF 625 KB]
- ICT Communications Room Deep Clean Specifications [PDF 470 KB]
- St-01 Telecommunications Cabling Infrastructure [PDF 1.56 MB]
- St-02 Communications Cabling Infrastructure [PDF 2.4 MB]
- St-04 Wireless Network [PDF 1.5 MB]
- St-05 Communications Room and Associated Support Infrastructure Requirements [PDF 2 MB]
- St-08 addendum CCTV and NVR Recommendations [PDF 480 KB]
- St-08 Security ICT Standard [PDF 1.5 MB]
- St-09 BMCS ICT Specifications [PDF 985 KB]
- St-10 Digital Lighting Control System Standard [PDF 825 KB]
- St-11 ICT Fire Standards [PDF 1.5 MB]
- St-12 Lift ICT Specification Standard [PDF 1 MB]
- St-13 Patient Entertainment System Standard [PDF 720 KB]
- St-14 Nurse Call ICT Specification [PDF 730 KB]
- St-15 Audio and Video Conferencing Standard [PDF 1.4 MB]
- St-16 Hearing Augmentation Standard [PDF 700 KB]
- St-21 Patient Bedside Information Board Standard [PDF 1.7 MB]
More information and help
Email dsd.csi@act.gov.au