COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Safety Leadership in Waterproofing Installations course. This training is designed to build your capability to lead by example, foster a strong safety culture, and ensure best practice standards are maintained across all waterproofing worksites. Effective safety leadership is essential to protecting workers, maintaining compliance, and delivering high-quality waterproofing outcomes.
This course begins by defining what safety leadership means specifically within the waterproofing industry, distinguishing it from general supervision or management. It highlights how leadership directly influences team attitudes, site behaviour, and the overall safety environment, reinforcing that proactive leadership reduces incidents and strengthens worksite culture.
Understanding and complying with legal duties is a cornerstone of effective safety leadership. This section explains the obligations of PCBUs, officers, supervisors, and workers under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and Regulations. It also covers the Codes of Practice relevant to waterproofing works and Australian Standards like AS 3740 and AS 4654 that shape safe installation practices.
Waterproofing work carries a range of high-risk activities that require strong leadership oversight. This section identifies common risks such as chemical handling, working at heights, and operating mechanical surface preparation equipment. It explains why leadership attention to these risks is crucial in preventing serious incidents.
Risk management is a core leadership responsibility. This section covers leading hazard identification, site-specific risk assessments, and the application of the hierarchy of controls. It emphasises the role of leaders in actively guiding teams to implement and maintain risk controls on site.
Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are essential in high-risk construction work. This section focuses on developing, communicating, and reviewing task-specific SWMS for waterproofing projects. It also covers how to engage workers during SWMS development to ensure practical application and ownership.
Setting clear safety expectations is critical to maintaining standards. This section outlines how to communicate safety rules during pre-starts, establish non-negotiable expectations for high-risk activities, and hold individuals accountable when unsafe behaviours are observed.
Supervision is a daily leadership responsibility. This section discusses the importance of actively monitoring waterproofing works, conducting regular safety inspections, and taking immediate action when unsafe practices or near misses are identified.
Leading by example is one of the most powerful tools a safety leader has. This section emphasises the importance of demonstrating correct PPE use, following all site procedures yourself, and consistently displaying professional, safety-focused behaviour to influence your team.
Strong communication underpins effective leadership. This section explores how to give clear, practical instructions, encourage open dialogue about hazards, and use toolbox talks and daily briefings to keep safety front-of-mind for all workers and subcontractors.
Building a team culture of safety and mutual accountability leads to long-term improvements. This section highlights strategies for empowering workers to report hazards without fear, recognising positive safety behaviours, and facilitating team-driven safety initiatives.
New workers and subcontractors need strong leadership to integrate safely onto sites. This section covers how to conduct comprehensive inductions, supervise early tasks for competency, and ensure subcontractors align with site safety requirements and SWMS.
Emergency preparedness is a critical leadership duty. This section outlines how to ensure all workers know the site's emergency response plans, assign roles and responsibilities, and lead evacuation drills and spill response practices confidently and effectively.
Hazardous chemical use must be tightly controlled. This section covers leading the safe storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals, ensuring Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are accessible, and supervising the correct use of chemical PPE such as respirators and gloves.
Working at heights remains a major cause of injury and fatality in construction. This section focuses on leadership practices for planning safe access, supervising fall protection system use, and monitoring scaffolding, harnesses, and temporary edge protection installations.
Incident investigation and corrective action leadership are crucial after any event. This section teaches how to conduct fair investigations, identify true root causes rather than surface-level mistakes, and implement corrective and preventive actions to improve future safety outcomes.
Training and mentoring ensure that safety is embedded into daily practice. This section covers providing on-the-job safety training, mentoring apprentices and less-experienced workers, and promoting the development of high-risk task competencies across the team.
Monitoring safety performance enables continuous improvement. This section explains how to use inspections, audits, and feedback to measure team safety behaviours, set achievable improvement goals, and track site safety performance over time.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the leadership skills, knowledge, and strategies to drive safer waterproofing operations, enhance compliance, protect your workers, and contribute to a positive and proactive safety culture on every project.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Safety Leadership in Waterproofing Installations
- Defining safety leadership in the waterproofing industry
- The influence of leadership on worksite safety culture
- Benefits of proactive leadership in preventing incidents
2. WHS Legal Responsibilities and Compliance Requirements
- Duties of PCBUs, officers, and workers under the WHS Act and Regulations
- Key Codes of Practice applicable to waterproofing works
- Australian Standards influencing waterproofing safety (AS 3740, AS 4654)
3. Recognising High-Risk Activities in Waterproofing Projects
- Chemical handling and inhalation risks
- Working at heights on roofs, decks, and balconies
- Operating powered equipment for surface preparation
4. Leading Risk Management Processes Effectively
- Identifying hazards and conducting site-specific risk assessments
- Applying the hierarchy of control measures
- Leading teams in the implementation of risk controls
5. Developing and Communicating Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)
- Writing task-specific SWMS for waterproofing installations
- Consulting and engaging workers in the SWMS development
- Reviewing and revising SWMS as conditions or scope change
6. Setting and Enforcing Clear Safety Expectations
- Communicating safety standards during pre-start meetings
- Establishing non-negotiable safety rules for critical activities
- Holding individuals accountable for non-compliance
7. Supervising Safe Work Practices and Procedures
- Actively monitoring waterproofing installations for safety breaches
- Conducting regular site walks and safety inspections
- Addressing unsafe practices immediately and constructively
8. Leading by Example in Workplace Safety Behaviours
- Consistent use of PPE and adherence to safe procedures
- Professional conduct and communication on site
- Showing visible commitment to safe practices
9. Promoting Effective Communication on Site
- Ensuring clear instruction on tasks, hazards, and controls
- Encouraging open dialogue about safety concerns
- Using toolbox talks and daily briefings to reinforce key messages
10. Building a Team Culture of Safety and Mutual Accountability
- Empowering workers to report hazards without fear
- Recognising and rewarding safe behaviour and initiatives
- Facilitating worker-led safety improvements
11. Managing New Workers and Subcontractors Safely
- Conducting thorough site inductions and PPE fit-outs
- Supervising initial tasks to ensure safety competency
- Ensuring subcontractors understand and comply with site safety rules
12. Emergency Preparedness Leadership
- Ensuring emergency response plans are known and practiced
- Assigning emergency roles and responsibilities
- Leading evacuation drills and chemical spill responses
13. Addressing Hazardous Chemical Use Safely
- Leading safe storage, handling, and disposal practices
- Ensuring access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) onsite
- Supervising correct use of respiratory and chemical PPE
14. Managing Work at Heights Activities Safely
- Planning safe access and fall prevention systems
- Supervising proper use of harnesses, static lines, and anchor points
- Monitoring scaffolding and temporary edge protection
15. Investigating Incidents and Leading Corrective Actions
- Conducting fair and thorough incident investigations
- Identifying root causes, not just immediate failures
- Implementing and tracking corrective and preventive actions
16. Conducting Safety Training and Mentoring
- Providing on-the-job training and supervision for high-risk tasks
- Mentoring apprentices and inexperienced workers in safe practices
- Promoting ongoing competency development
17. Monitoring Site Safety Performance and Setting Improvement Goals
- Using inspections, audits, and feedback to measure performance
- Setting realistic safety improvement targets for teams
- Reviewing safety data to identify trends and opportunities
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital โCertificate of Completionโ.