Timber Fence Installation

Yes. In NSW, BYDA (Before You Dig Australia) clearance is legally mandatory before any excavation near gas and electricity networks. In all other states, you have a legal duty of care to take reasonable steps to avoid damaging underground services. Australia records approximately 20,000 underground service strikes per year. BYDA is a free service - submit a request online and utility operators respond with service location information. Never dig without checking first.

Powered earth augers rotate at high speed and do not stop quickly once engaged. Even brief contact with rotating parts can cause amputation, scalping, or de-gloving injuries. SafeWork NSW documented multiple serious auger entanglement incidents in 2023 involving young workers. Two-person operation (one on controls, one as spotter) ensures someone can activate the emergency stop if entanglement occurs and monitors the exclusion zone to keep bystanders clear.

Yes. Wet Portland cement reaches a caustic pH of 12-13 within 2 minutes of mixing. Cement burns are deceptive - workers feel no pain for hours while the alkaline chemistry destroys skin tissue. Third-degree chemical burns can develop after just 2 hours of skin contact. Burns typically worsen even after cement is washed off. Rubber gloves (not cloth or leather) are mandatory when handling wet concrete. If concrete contacts skin, flush immediately with water for at least 20 minutes and seek medical attention.

Fence posts in ground contact require H4 hazard class treatment minimum per AS 5604 and AS/NZS 1604. This means the timber is treated for severe decay hazard from in-ground moisture exposure. Above-ground components (rails and palings) require H3 treatment (moderate weather exposure). ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) treated timber is preferred over CCA (Copper Chrome Arsenate) for residential use as it does not contain arsenic. All cut ends of treated timber should be re-sealed with end-grain preservative.

Sequential trigger only. Contact/bump fire triggers are prohibited. Sequential triggers require the safety tip to be depressed first AND the trigger squeezed for each nail, preventing accidental discharge. This is critical for fencing work where repetitive nailing on long runs increases fatigue and inattention risk. SafeWork SA data shows 77% of serious nail gun injuries over 5 years were apprentices - direct supervision is mandatory for inexperienced workers.

Minimum PPE includes: impact-rated safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337) during cutting and nailing, Class 5 hearing protection for power tools, steel cap boots, cut-resistant work gloves for timber handling, rubber gloves for wet concrete, P2 dust mask for treated timber cutting and dry concrete mixing, sun protection (hat, long sleeves, sunscreen), and high-visibility vest if working near roads. Fitted clothing (no loose items) is critical near the powered auger.

Licensing requirements vary by state. In NSW, a contractor licence is required for fencing work valued over $5,000. In QLD, a QBCC licence is required above certain thresholds. The nationally recognised qualification is Certificate III in Fencing (RII30920), though Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220) also qualifies for timber fence construction. A White Card is required for all workers on construction sites in all states.

This template covers seven key hazards: underground services strike during post hole digging (BYDA compliance), powered auger entanglement (two-person operation), circular saw and drop saw injuries, nail gun injuries (sequential trigger mandatory), manual handling of heavy posts and concrete bags, cement burns from wet concrete (pH 12-13), and UV/heat exposure for outdoor work. Each hazard includes full risk assessment and hierarchy of controls.

Standard fence post holes are typically 600-900mm deep depending on fence height, post size, soil conditions, and wind loads. A general rule is one-third of total post length should be buried (e.g., 600mm burial for a 1.8m fence with 2.4m posts). Posts are set in concrete footings mixed to manufacturer specification. Higher wind zones (coastal, elevated) may require deeper burial and larger concrete footings. Check local council requirements for boundary fences.

STOP work immediately. For electrical cable: do NOT touch the cable, evacuate all workers at least 8m from the strike, call 000 and the electricity network operator. For gas pipeline: evacuate the area, eliminate all ignition sources (no phones, no vehicle starts), call 000 and the gas network operator, move upwind. For water main: isolate the area, call the water utility. Report all strikes to the network operator immediately regardless of visible damage.