CONTECH Group
Health, Safety & Environment

12 Life-Critical Activities.

The high-risk tasks where our safety controls are absolute — and everyone can stop the job.

Life-Critical Activities

The activities that can cost a life.

Most serious incidents in construction come from a small number of high-risk activities. CONTECH defines 12 Life-Critical Activities — the tasks where a failure of control can lead to a fatality or life-changing injury, and where our rules are absolute.

For every one of these activities, work proceeds only with the right assessment, controls, competence and authorisation in place. If controls are not in place, we stop the job.

Download the handbook (PDF)

Life-Critical Activities Handbook · v1.0 · Effective 11 May 2026 · Public

CONTECH life-critical activities
The 12 activities

Where our controls are absolute.

Working at Height01
Working at HeightUse approved fall protection.
Floor Openings02
Floor OpeningsCover, guard and mark all openings.
Mobile Equipment & Personnel Interface03
Mobile Equipment & Personnel InterfaceSeparate people from moving plant.
Excavation Works04
Excavation WorksSupport, inspect and access safely.
Machine Guarding05
Machine GuardingNever operate equipment without guards.
Safe Driving06
Safe DrivingWear seatbelts and follow site traffic rules.
Simultaneous Operations07
Simultaneous OperationsCoordinate interfaces and control work zones.
Mobile Elevated Work Platforms08
Mobile Elevated Work PlatformsUse trained operators and fall protection.
Confined Space09
Confined SpacePermit, test, monitor and rescue plan.
Lock Out–Tag Out10
Lock Out–Tag OutIsolate, lock, tag and verify zero energy before work.
Lifting & Rigging Operations11
Lifting & Rigging OperationsPlan lifts and keep clear of suspended loads.
Barricades & Exclusion Zones12
Barricades & Exclusion ZonesRespect barriers and restricted areas.
Safety essentials

The rules behind every activity.

Follow ProceduresFollow ProceduresFollow safe work procedures, every time.
Use PPE at All TimesUse PPE at All TimesWear the required protective equipment.
Stop Work If UnsafeStop Work If UnsafeAnyone can stop unsafe work immediately.
Communicate ClearlyCommunicate ClearlyClear communication prevents mistakes.
Waste & EnvironmentWaste & EnvironmentManage waste and protect the environment.
Stop-work authority

Anyone can stop the job.

Every worker on a CONTECH site has the authority — and the duty — to stop any task that is unsafe, with no fear of blame. Work restarts only when it is safe.

01

Recognise

Spot when a life-critical control is missing.

02

Stop

Pause the task and make the area safe.

03

Resolve

Fix the control, then resume safely.

Activity-specific standards and the Life-Critical Activities handbook (PDF) to be published and linked here.

Our health & safety approach.

Health & Safety Policy →