Workplace Health and Safety (WHS)

Creating a safe work environment is critical to the success of your business, and is one of the best ways to retain staff and maximise productivity. Though it may cost to implement safe practices and install safety equipment, the effect of not taking action can be severe.

As a business owner you have responsibilities regarding health and safety in your workplace. You need to ensure that your business doesn't create health and safety problems for your employees, customers or the public.

Knowing and understanding the WHS laws, previously known as Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), will help you avoid unnecessary costs and damage to your business caused by workplace injury and illness. It will also provide your business with a strong foundation to achieve long-term success.

If you want to reduce health and safety hazards in your workplace but don't know where to begin, there are simple steps that will allow you to concentrate your efforts as well as help your business to be prepared in all situations.

Having the right attitude towards the safety of your workers, contractors, customers and the public is an important first step. WHS shouldn't be seen as an additional cost - it's better to deal with health and safety issues before they escalate.

If you're looking for assistance with WHS/OH&S requirements specific to your industry, you can utilise state or territory WHS agencies for advice and kits on how to incorporate safety management into your business operations.

Your WHS obligations

Under WHS legislation you are obliged to provide:

• safe premises
• safe machinery and materials
• safe systems of work
• information, instruction, training and supervision
• a suitable working environment and facilities.

Complying with these duties can prevent you from being prosecuted and fined, and help you to retain skilled staff.

WHS authorities in each state and territory and Safe Work Australia have responsibilities for enforcing the WHS legislation. They provide education, training and advice on health and safety at work. You can get information about your workplace health and safety obligations and other valuable WHS/OH&S resources both in hard copy and online from their websites.

Please note that legal obligations of employers vary according to circumstances. You may wish to seek independent legal advice on what is applicable to your situation.


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How to Replace a Section of Guttering | Mitre 10 Easy As

Box Gutter

A box gutter may look like a box because of its ‘boxy’ shape. But the main reason it is a box gutter is because it is ‘boxed in’ on all sides. The picture below shows the layout of a typical box gutter on a metal roof.

Typically, a box gutter is ‘trapped’ between two roofs that feed rainwater into it. The water is drained via downpipe nozzles in the box gutter or via a sump built into the box gutter. A good box gutter design will have falls along the length of the box gutter, sumps to collect water before it is fed into large downpipes. There will also be an overflow facility on the side or the end of the box gutter – so that water will overflow externally to the building, rather than flood into the roof cavity.

I recommend that colorbond should always be used for a box gutter. Some severe situations may call for colorbond “ULTRA” or even colorbond stainless. Box gutters get a lot of moist leaves and debris and these can shorten its life – so the rule of thumb is to have the box gutter material as good or better (in the corrosion department) than the roofing material. 

Sometimes I see architectural specifications nominating a colorbond roof with a zincalume box gutter. This combination can result in much higher maintenance costs for the roof. 

Why?

…Because, the box gutter will need replacement a lot sooner than the roof. And a box gutter replacement is quite expensive and time consuming – because it usually involves removal of the roof sheeting.

Since the box gutter is originally installed before the roof – the roof has to be removed to remove the old box gutter and to allow the new box gutter to be inserted.

Unfortunately, with flat roofs, larger complex roofs, parapet walls and other architectural building features, rainwater does not always drain out directly to the external perimeter of the roof. In these instances, box gutters are the only viable option. So, if your roof is not ‘straight forward’ – then you probably have a box gutter somewhere on it.

It pays to have box gutters maintained and regularly cleaned out – simply because a box gutter leak has much higher consequences that the eaves gutters along the edge of your roof leaking.


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Six work life balance nuggets

As a small business owner, I’ve realised that work life balance is essential for business success. Here are six nuggets to help you achieve it.

Running your own business gives you the flexibility to work your own hours, but it can also mean that your personal life is placed on the backburner. 

Many business owners struggle to find a balance between business and life, especially now that technological advancements allow them to be connected 24/7.

If you find yourself in the above category, here are some tips to help you achieve a healthy and productive work life balance.

Set goals and plan weekly tasks in advance

Having clear goals and setting tasks in advance makes life easier because it gives you control and a sense of direction.

In writing down your goals and tasks for the week, make sure they are: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. By making sure your goals are ‘SMART’, you are more likely to achieve them.

Undertake training in the techniques required

Enrol in a course or research books related to maintaining and achieving a healthy work life balance. Whether it is time management, goal setting, maximising productivity or stress management, there are endless resources available to help you.

“ Multi-tasking may seem like the best way to get more things done, but in reality it helps us accomplish very little.  ”

Make an exercise plan

There are many studies that prove exercise is important in anyone’s daily routine. Not only does it make you feel good about yourself, it gives you a fresh mind – meaning you’ll function more efficiently and complete tasks in less time.

Avoid multitasking

Multi-tasking may seem like the best way to get more things done, but in reality it helps us accomplish very little – instead we end up with several half completed tasks, and nothing to cross off our to-do lists. Whenever possible, focus on one task at a time.

Want more articles like this? Check out the work life balance section.

Take a break

Working non-stop throughout the day is not the most productive approach when it comes to completing your work. Take frequent, short breaks to maintain energy and focus. Make sure you get away from your desk every so often to stretch your legs too.

Get a business coach

If you feel you have all the right systems in place but are still struggling with finding the right balance between work and life, consider investing in a business coach. That way you can find out sooner rather than later how to get rid of bad habits, and can implement strategies to help you succeed.

Remember, work life balance involves all components of life, including: work, non-work activities, life responsibilities and leisure activities. Work life balance is good for you, and good for your business.


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Gutter Guards / Replacement / Maintenance

Gutter Guards

Gutter guards installed by a licensed roof plumber and compliant with Australian Standards, are particularly useful in preventing leaves, twigs and other debris from blocking gutters and downpipes, mosquitoes breeding, birds, possums and vermin from entering the roof space and reducing the risk of embers from bushfires entering gutters and roof space.

Gutter Replacement

The cheapest and most commonly used guttering has traditionally been galvanised iron. However, this has been largely superseded by Zincalume, zinc and aluminium coating to steel. Aluminium eaves gutters are being used increasingly, as they are less prone to corrosion, and therefore have a longer life expectancy. Their disadvantage is that they are more expensive.

Maintenance of Roofs and Gutters

All roofing and guttering will deteriorate in time. In particular, metal surfaces can deteriorate very quickly if not looked after. Debris in rusting gutters can accelerate deterioration considerably.
It is recommended that overhanging trees be cut back and mesh inserted over gutters to extend their working lives. However, many modern gutters are designed to shed leaves more effectively.
Deterioration to roofs and gutters can be suddenly accelerated by storm and high winds. Therefore it is important that roofs and guttering be thoroughly checked after such events and on a regular basis so that faults can then be detected at an early stage and repairs undertaken before more costly damage occurs. All gutters, downpipes, sumps and storm water drains to be cleaned regularly especially where there are over hanging trees.


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Why are gutters so important to my house?

Most homeowners don't spend a lot of time thinking about their gutters, but understanding their importance may prevent costly home repair bills in the future.

Gutters funnel water off of the roof and away from your home, which protects your siding, windows, doors and foundation from water damage. While that sounds important, many homeowners don't realize how much damage can occur when their gutters are clogged, leaking, or broken. When gutters aren't functioning properly, rainwater runs off the roof of the house and collects on the ground near the foundation. Heavy rains can result in standing pools of water, which can cause a multitude of problems.

Gutters protect your home from:

• Home and basement flooding
• Cracked/damaged foundation
• Infestations - Mosquitoes and other insects breed in standing water
• Mold - overflowing gutters create an environment for mold to flourish in crawlspaces and basements
• Erosion: Topsoil protects the foundation of your home. If water is not correctly diverted away from your home the topsoil will erode and leave your foundation vulnerable.
• Staining to the exterior of your home fascia, soffit, wood framing and outside walls as well as decks, patios, driveways and walkways
• Paint damage
• Rotting/Rusting of exterior building products
• Damage to landscaping ? fungi can damage or kill your flowers and trees

If the list sounds somewhat dramatic, remember that you don't have to live in an area that experiences extreme weather conditions to suffer the effects of clogged or damaged gutters. Consider this startling fact: experts estimate that one inch of rain on an average sized house roof creates about 500 gallons of rainwater runoff. Now think back to the last rainfall in your area. One inch of rain doesn't seem like much — imagine the volume of water hitting your roof in a heavy rainstorm! I bet you are thinking about your gutters now! No need to panic and rush out to buy a brand new expensive gutter system. A simple maintenance routine will keep your gutters working properly and avoid the problems outlined above.

Maintenance

Gutters should be cleaned twice a year, in early spring and late fall.

"Have your gutters checked to be sure they aren't pulling away from the house. If they are, talk to a gutter installation professional about changing the spikes holding the gutters to screws. Screws do a much better job of holding the gutters in place," says Jim Radcliffe, co-founder of Medallion Inspections in Atlanta. "And make sure your downspouts are clear and not blocked by leaves, and that the water from gutters, downspouts, and around the house flows at least 10 feet away from your house."

Many homeowners prefer to clean their own gutters, while others hire a gutter expert to do the cleaning for a reasonable cost.The cost of hiring a professional to clean your gutters is a pittance compared to the money you'll spend on repairs to your home if they aren't functioning properly.

If you are cleaning the gutters yourself, make sure to check for rusted spots, dents and holes, broken gutter hangers, and disconnected joints. Repair or replace any problem areas.

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Different Types of Gutters

Half round gutters

As there are no square corners, half round gutters do not collect as much debris as other gutter types. They also empty quicker due to a larger water-carrying capacity.

Quad gutters

Square fronted gutters

These are designed to hide the ends of roof sheets and have slots in them to help the water overflow freely in heavy rain without entering the roof space.

Smoothline gutters

These are similar to half round gutters but they have a flat back and are fixed using internal brackets.

Gutter & Downpipe Problems:

Rusted or poorly installed gutters are common problems where easily recognisable signs of deterioration are paint bubbling or rust on the underside of the gutters and stains on the underside of eaves. If the problem is minor, small holes in gutters may be patched. 

However, indications of more disastrous guttering faults are stains around windows, sometimes down the walls and in the case of skillion roofs, even on the ceilings.

Such leaks are most likely to be caused by gutter overflow due to a number of reasons. They may be clogged with debris, or the slope towards the downpipe may be insufficient. Blocked downpipes and drains may also lead to water overflowing gutters. Or a guttering overflow may occur during a downpour because the large volume of water can't be drained away fast enough. An "overloaded" roof drainage system will need more downpipes installed.

Overflow faults are worsened when the outside edge of the spouting is higher than the inside edge, a common installation fault. Problem installations of this kind can often be remedied by loosening the gutter brackets so that the outside edge of the gutter becomes lower than the inside edge. Alternatively, overflow outlets could be drilled into the gutter, below the danger level.

A look inside the eaves should reveal if leaks have occurred and if any timber-rot problems exist as a result. It is also important to check the inside of gutters. Rainwater ponding, may indicate that the gutters flow the wrong way.

Additional guttering problems may occur in a house with a party wall. A rusting valley gutter or box gutter is a serious problem in this case, as the water will run straight into the ceiling. 

The rusted sections should be replaced and the flashing removed from the mortar between the bricks.

• Rusting of the gutter due to a lack of cleaning
• Accumulated soil, plant material and debris with associated moisture accelerate the corrosion of the gutter
• Rusting of downpipes in the bend under the eaves
• Rotting of the fascia due to the gutter leaking. Fascia corners are especially vulnerable to rot, as the mitred timber corner has exposed end grain
• Box gutters can overflow into the unit below, as the gutter is 'boxed in' behind the facade so trapping the water
• Stormwater sumps can quickly fill up with leaves and rubbish.


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