Course Overview

Course Overview

The Construction Regulations Course provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the Construction Regulations under the South African Occupational Health and Safety Act (No. 85 of 1993). It is designed to equip construction professionals, employers, contractors, safety officers, and stakeholders with the knowledge required to comply with legal responsibilities, promote a safe work environment, and mitigate occupational risks on construction sites.

Through practical examples, legal interpretation, and real-case applications, participants will gain the tools necessary to ensure regulatory compliance and effective construction site management.

Duration: 3 Days

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the purpose and scope of the Construction Regulations.
• Identify and interpret the legal duties of Clients, Principal Contractors, Subcontractors, and other role players.
• Apply practical compliance procedures for health and safety specifications, work permits, and risk assessments.
• Prepare and manage safety files, plans, method statements, and incident reports.
• Conduct and participate in legal appointments (e.g. CR 7(1), CR 8(1), CR 9(1)).
• Monitor contractor compliance and ensure proper site coordination.
• Align construction projects with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) requirements and Department of Employment and Labour expectations.

Course Content

Day 1: Legal Framework and Role Players

• Module 1: Introduction to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
  • Purpose of the Act and its Application to Construction
  • Key Definitions and Enforcement Provisions
• Module 2: Overview of the Construction Regulations, 2014
  • Scope and Objectives of the Regulations
  • Application to Temporary, Maintenance, and Large-Scale Projects
• Module 3: Duties of Role Players
  • Legal Responsibilities of the Client
  • Duties of the Principal Contractor and Contractors
  • Appointment of Competent Persons: CR 7(1), 8(1), 9(1), etc.

Day 2: Compliance Mechanisms and Safety Management

• Module 4: Construction Work Permits and Health & Safety Specifications
  • Threshold for Notification of Construction Work
  • Contents and Submission of Health and Safety Plans
  • Construction Work Permit Applications
• Module 5: Safety File and Documentation Requirements
  • Contents of a Safety File
  • Method Statements, Risk Assessments, Registers, Checklists
  • Incident and Accident Reporting Procedures
• Module 6: Training, Induction, and Supervision
  • Legal Induction Requirements
  • Toolbox Talks and Competency Tracking
  • Monitoring Worker and Contractor Compliance

Day 3: Site Coordination, Monitoring and Enforcement

• Module 7: Site Control and Coordination
  • Fall Protection Plans (Reg. 10)
  • Working at Heights, Excavation, Demolition, and Temporary Works
  • Plant, Equipment, and Scaffold Control
• Module 8: Audits, Inspections and Legal Enforcement
  • Duties of the Department of Employment and Labour
  • Preparation for Inspections
  • Dealing with Non-Compliance and Improvement Notices
• Final Practical Exercise:
  • Scenario-Based Compliance Audit and Role Play
  • Drafting a Site Safety Compliance Improvement Plan

Course Difficulty: Intermediate