Residential Building Work - Paper Example

Assuming that you are a building company operating in NSW, what is Residential Building Work?

Residential Building Work involves work done in construction, altering, and adding a section to a dwelling. Besides, Residential Building Work entails repairs, renovations, decoration, and treatment of homes. According to the Home Building Act 1989, the licensing of Residential Building Work takes includes the construction of the garage, sheds, bathrooms, laundry renovations, swimming pools, glass, pool or screened enclosures, conservatories, and house lifting.

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What are standards, why do they matter, and how are they related to the NCC?

Management procedures employ standard tools that measure and organize the technical world that establishes a common measure of quality. Standards facilitate the safety and reliability of the product, which is employed in determining the product's quality. Rules dating back to the ancient civilization and development of commercial activities, trade, and documentation evolved the valuation and organization of technical activities such as agriculture, weapons, and buildings. Standards offer common sets of criteria that base on common requirements and knowledge but discourage reinvention. Standardization is focused on improving the quality of life by enhancing consumer safety, occupational health, and other areas beyond the initial industrial focus (Board, 2016).

Quality and safety criteria are significant points of focus in standardization. According to conformance to quality and safety procedures is vital in establishing the quality of biological, chemical, and physical measures. In this light, standards protect and promote innovation in Australia. Businesses and their consumers are guaranteed safety and reliability in the products they deal with, therefore influencing consumer's choice and decision-making. Change in standards focuses on improving product safety and security through the invention of new standards guidelines. Rules also affect productivity and production by improving time management, reducing production cost, and driving the economies of scale. Product competitiveness can be linked to standards and standardization. Products adhering to set a code of rules are more competitive in the market than counterparts that fail to meet the Australian Standards (Board, 2016). In line with global values, standards align Australia with internal standards reducing the obstacles to international ventures. Rules offer an alternative to regulation, reducing the business costs and red tapes in improving the security of consumers for small businesses and families.

National Construction Code (NCC) provides a uniform approach to the construction and design of buildings. The Council of Australian Governments developed NCC under the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) as an initiative that incorporates requirements in on-site construction into one code identical nationally (Board, 2016). NCC outlines standard requirements in public and commercial buildings, residential building work, and plumbing. The provisions of NCC ensure the satisfaction of performance requirements. NCC highlights construction requirements that facilitate occupation work and health safety.

What role do the Work, Health, and Safety Regulations 2012 have in construction businesses?

The safety of the working environment promotes business productivity and success. Implementation of safety procedures protects employees, public, and customers—work health and safety regulations 2012 advocates for the implementation of a safe and healthy work environment (Australia, n.d.). The business protects the employees from any health or safety threat that may arise in the working environment. Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations outline the baseline requirements for reduced workplace injuries and illnesses, thereby promoting employee productivity and long-term success. Construction business involves machinery, equipment, and systems of work. Therefore, the implementation of a safe working environment protects employees from vast risks of injury and illness. Work Health Safety in construction businesses provide safety procedures to handle harmful goods such as chemicals and outline the baseline safety measures in terms of workplace conditions, facilities, and knowledge of the operations of different systems and machinery.

WHS also provides for monitoring and evaluating employees' health status, especially those working in noisy places, exposed chemicals, and fatigue levels. Construction companies need to have updated employee health records to protect vulnerable employees from exposure to health hazards or accidents. The WHS regulations promote the workplace safety and health of employees, enhancing employee retention and business productivity (Australia, n.d.).

Assuming that you are a building company operating in NSW, what is Commercial Building Work?

Commercial Building Work involves the construction of buildings for commercial activities such as factories, shops, and offices. Commercial builders are classified as commercial Builders Unlimited (CB-U) and Commercial Builder limited (CB-L). CB-U constructs any commercial buildings without any limitations, while CB-L constructs commercial buildings that they are licensed to build. Commercial Building Work incorporates the services offered by the different commercial builders (CB-U and CB-L) in construction projects such as buildings and structures such as bridges.

What is the National Construction Code, and how is it administered?

The National Construction Code is a set of guidelines that define the standards and measures of buildings adopted by contractors. NCC highlights the safety and health concerns that affect the employees, customers, and the public. NCC's role is to create a standard construction procedure that influences residential building works, and commercial building works. NCC was developed under the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), and it is administered under the commercial building work, residential building work, and the Plumbing Code of Australia. The three segments work collectively to attain a standardized construction process and minimal deviations from structure and quality building.

NCC also constitutes of the Building Code of Australia (BCA), which aligns the technical provisions and designs of buildings and structures. BCA states the minimum threshold of performance needs to be met by a building and the regulatory documentation of compliance with legal requirements. However, BCA does not integrate health, safety, amenities, and sustainability of construction project designs and performance (Bluff, 2004).

Create a list of the hazards that you, as a commercial builder, need to look out for. Usually, these will be considered in the planning and design stages of the project, but they are legal requirements in the construction stages—state at least eight examples.

Type of Hazard Details

Working at Heights Falls at any height can result in fatal injuries. Misuse of protection and safety gear, human error, and limited mobility can lead to severe accidents.

Collapse of structures The collapse of trenches and structures can lead to injuries.

Working with heavy machinery Machines are heavily used in the commercial construction process. Accidents from the tools contribute to high construction site accidents, morbidity, and mortality.

Noise The machines and equipment used in the construction process may be causing noise pollution unhealthy to workers in such areas (Tunji-Olayeni, Afolabi & Okpalamoka, 2018). Noise can cause impaired hearing and psychological restlessness.

Material and manual handling Heavy lifting and use of tools form part of the construction work. The process is highly hand-on work, which exposes the workers to musculoskeletal disorders such as hand and vibration syndrome (HAVS).

Chemicals Construction sites workers are exposed to different types of harmful substances. The list ranges from dust particles, toxins, and asbestos. Construction industries contribute to high cases of respiratory diseases

Movements and moving objects Movements of vehicles, forklifts, cranes, and other machines for construction is a continuous process and therefore increases the probability of causing accidents. The constant flow of people, as well as the movements of engines, increases the risk of accidents.

Assuming that you are a building company operating in NSW, what laws are different from Commercial Building Work instead of Residential Building Work?

The building and construction process is covered under the construction law. Construction law outlines specific construction steps from the pre-sale of the construction project to abatement. The provisions of construction laws across NSW varies from residential building work to commercial building work. The residential building work contracts are covered under home building laws. Residential Building Work in NSW is covered under two statutory legislations, the Home Building Act and the Home Building Regulation 2004. According to the Home Building Act, homes are dwellings constructed under the licencing of residential building work. Licencing of residential building work involved constructions with the cost of labour and building material over $5,000. Refrigeration and air conditioning work, plumbing, electrical wiring, gasfitting and draining are also covered under the residential building work contract. Residential Building Work in NSW is covered under two statutory legislations, the Home Building Act and the Home Building Regulation 2004.

Commercial building work contracts include the construction of structures for commercial activities, generations of profit from either rentals or capital gain. Commercial law highlights full details on the expected standards. Commercial building work varies from residential building work as they operate under different regulation bodies, construction rules, requirements on electrical code, plumbing needs and zoning requirements. Commercial builders register their businesses under the Unlimited Commercial building (CB-U) or limited commercial building (CB-L). Commercial building work is covered under the Building Code of Australia (National Construction Code), and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, which entail the Housing Code 2017 (Legislation, 2019).

Who needs to register for GST?

Goods and Service Tax (GST) is a 10% tax that broadly covers all products bought, used or consumed by Australians. The 10% tax is included in the prices of the products, but an exception is allowed on basic foods, medical and health care products, and some educational courses (ATO, 2018). The prices of the goods and services include the GST unless if GST free. Most commonly taxed sales include financial supplies like money lending, credit services, leasing or renting residential premises or selling. However, input taxed sales are exclusive of GST. Construction projects with a turnover rate of over $75,000 and those businesses that need to claim fuel tax credits. Businesses which also provide transport services at a fee need to register for GST (ATO, 2018). However, registration is not limited to the above factors but is optional to those businesses which do not fall within the baseline requirements. Businesses that deal with products subject to GST are also recommended for GST.

Building and construction are also included in the provision of GST. Contractors can register for GST in case of high GST turnover exceeding $75000 or excess GST turnover exceeding $75000 (ATO, 2018). Therefore, contractors need to register for GST along with residential owners who lease or rent buildings.