High Risk Standard

NIGHT WORK

Scope
This TPG High Risk Standard has been developed to support TPG Contractors in the planning and
mobilisation of TPG contracted works involving a worker who performs a work activity that is carried
out at night.
This Standard must be applied in conjunction with other applicable TPG Contract Conditions
regarding health and safety and governing legal requirements for night work.
It is noted that if there is inconsistency between the legislation and this standard, the legislation
shall take precedence.

Purpose
This TPG High Risk Standard for Night Work aims to define minimum TPG and legal requirements for
the elimination or, where this is not reasonably practicable, the minimisation of, risk to workers and
other persons when Contractors are undertaking a work activity that is carried out at night, and this
precondition forms a part of their TPG agreed Contract Conditions.

Roles and Responsibilities

TPG Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for:
1. Complying with all TPG contractual obligations for health and safety, including legislative
requirements.
2. Reviewing this Standard and ensuring that this information is considered in the
development of their risk management methodologies and safe systems for night work, and
recording the outcomes in such documents as a WHS Management Plan, Working Hours
Policy, Fatigue Management Plan, Fitness / Wellbeing Plans, Journey Management Plans,
Risk Register and/or Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS).
3. Developing a High Risk Construction Work - SWMS as prescribed by legal requirements,
including when that construction work is carried out in an area in which there are artificial
extremes of temperature.
4. Defining accountabilities and authorities for managers and workers who supervise or carry
out night work.
5. Ensuring that persons who undertake night work have the required certification, licences,
training and competencies.
6. Establishing communication and consultation arrangements for night work including direct /
indirect supervision and a means of contact in an emergency.
7. Establishing emergency preparedness and response, including plans and procedures for
night work.
8. Reporting all accidents, illness, diseases and notifiable incidents within the required
contractual reporting period and in the form required to TPG and where required by State,
Territory and/or Commonwealth law, to the governing regulatory body.

S-WHS-008 Version 5 1
Issue Date: 12/07/2021
Public
 Planning for night work activities
TPG Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for:
1. Identifying all commonwealth, State, Territory and/or Commonwealth statutory
requirements for night work.
2. Conducting a risk assessment which will identify all reasonably foreseeable hazards that
could give rise to risk and if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate those risks,
minimise those risks by applying the hierarchy of controls. Examples of factors to consider
in relation to night work include exposure to noise, extreme temperature, vibration,
chemicals and substances, heavy physical activities, excessive work scheduling/hours and
night shifts, remote or isolated works, long periods of travel, operating vehicles and plant,
emergency call-outs, geography, worker health and fitness, communication limitations,
animals, pests, exposure to threatening behaviours, wildlife environmental and lifestyle
factors.
3. Ensuring that adequate facilities for night work (lighting, toilets, drinking water, eating
facilities, personal storage, first aid etc.) are provided at the workplace.
4. Providing training to ensure that persons are licensed and competent prior to night work.
Training may include, but not be limited to:
a. understanding the process for risk management, hazard identification and control;
b. understanding and recognising the symptoms of fatigue;
c. the workings of the body and how the body is affected by fatigue;
d. lifestyle and effects of medication, drugs and alcohol;
e. understanding the need for the fitness for work including wellbeing programs,
exercise, diet, sleep, relaxation and rest breaks;
f. communication devices including repair; and
g. emergency preparedness and response procedures including reporting in and first
aid.
5. Planning for all potential emergency preparedness and response procedures appropriate to
the particular nature of the works including first aid and reporting requirements.

Conducting Night Work activities

To the extent that control measures are listed in this standard, the control measures are not
intended to replace the selection of control measures by contractors – the selection process remains
the responsibility of contractors.

TPG Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for:

1. Implementing WHS Management Plan, Working Hours Policy, Fatigue Management Plan,
Fitness / Wellbeing Plans, Journey Management Plans, Risk Register and/or Safe Work
Method Statement as prescribed by legislation when undertaking night work.
2. Implementing the High Risk Construction Work SWMS in accordance with legislative
requirements.
3. Ensuring that workers are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or any other
substance or medication that could impair their ability to undertake night work.
4. Ensuring that workers are fit for work and able to safely perform the allocated work activity.

S-WHS-008 Version 5 2
Issue Date: 12/07/2021
Public
 5. Ensuring that controls identified to manage the risks associated with night work are
implemented, by implementing safe systems of work such as, rearranging non-essential
work, scheduled working hours, adequate amenities, pre-determined completion times and
itinerary schedules, security arrangements, health assessments, high visibility clothing and
satellite tracking systems (with distress or alert functions)
6. Implementing a process for the reporting, corrective action and recording of unsafe night
work practices.
7. Implementing and communicating emergency preparedness and response requirements as
appropriate for a work activity that is being carried out.

Night Work Equipment and Process Management

TPG Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for:
Reviewing the appropriateness of risk management methodologies and safe systems of work for
night work such as a WHS Management Plan, Journey Management Plans, Working Hours Policy,
Fatigue Management Plan, Fitness / Wellbeing Plans, Risk Register and/or Safe Work Method
Statement and revising as necessary.
Reviewing the training provided to ensure its effectiveness in the delivery of safe work safety
practices.
Reviewing the fitness for work process to ensure that workers have not been not under the
influence of alcohol or drugs, or any other substance or medication that could impair their ability to
undertake night work.
Ensuring that emergency preparedness and response hardware are inspected and tested as
appropriate.
Reviewing the reporting process for accidents, illness, diseases and notifiable incidents to ensure
they are effective and in accordance with TPG WHS requirements and State, Territory and/or
Commonwealth WHS laws.
TPG Contractors should also refer to the High Risk Standard for ‘Lone Worker’ and ‘Fatigue’ as
required.

S-WHS-008 Version 5 3
Issue Date: 12/07/2021
Public