When work starts on common property, the impact is often felt straight away. A walkway narrows. Lighting changes. Access shifts. A contractor arrives, materials are delivered, and shared spaces begin to transform, sometimes subtly, sometimes more noticeably.
At first, these changes can feel temporary and routine. But even small adjustments can quickly influence how residents, visitors and workers move through and experience the space. This is often where risks start to emerge, especially in areas with regular foot or vehicle traffic. If you are on a committee, this is the point where a simple check-in can make a real difference.
At the time, it may not be obvious how these changes are affecting movement, access or visibility. Over time, however, they can create uncertainty or increase the potential for incidents, particularly in busy or shared environments.
Work health and safety (WHS) laws set out responsibilities for managing risks on common property, including how temporary works affect people using shared spaces. In practice, this goes beyond the task itself and includes how work changes access, movement and visibility while it is underway.
Owners corporations or bodies corporate may fall within WHS duty holder definitions where workers are engaged to carry out temporary works on common property. This can include cleaners, contractors, tradespeople and building managers working on site.
In commercial, industrial and mixed‑use schemes, this can become more complex. Higher levels of movement, shared access areas, and mixed-use spaces can increase the impact of short-term changes while work is underway.
Because these works are often short-term, they can be treated as routine. This can make it easy to focus on getting the job done, rather than noticing how access, movement and visibility are changing around it. Taking a step back to consider how these changes affect people’s daily experiences can help create safer, more predictable shared environments.
Everyone has a role in workplace health and safety. Find out how to meet your duties under WHS laws.
When temporary work arrangements are unclear or not fully considered, the impact is often felt in everyday use of the building. Access can become confusing, movement through shared areas can slow, and people may feel unsure about how to move safely through work zones.
These everyday disruptions can affect how comfortable and confident residents, visitors, and workers feel as they navigate the space.
In larger or more complex buildings, these impacts are often more noticeable simply because more people are using the same space while the work is underway.
Often, temporary works are only closely reviewed after something goes wrong, such as an incident or near miss. At that point, it becomes more apparent where planning, communication or responsibility may not have been as clear as expected. Clear work orders and contracts can help reduce this uncertainty before work begins. They outline the scope, responsibilities and expectations, which can help avoid confusion or disputes as the work progresses.
Taking a more proactive, people-focused approach can help identify these issues earlier and reduce the likelihood of them escalating.
Failing to comply with the model WHS Act and your duty could result in costly penalties. SafeWork Australia outlines the potential consequences.
Check whether walkways, stairwells or shared areas have been narrowed or blocked, and how this may affect movement.
Look at how tools, materials, or equipment are placed and how they affect how people naturally move through the space.
Regular maintenance can also help uncover issues that are not always obvious day to day, especially as temporary setups begin to feel ‘normal’ over time.
Limited signage, unclear communication about changes, or uncertainty around who is responsible can make it harder to identify and manage hazards. Check that signs are visible and easy to understand, and that work areas are clearly separated where needed.
Over time, these changes can become normal as part of day‑to‑day activity, making it easier to overlook their impact on safety.
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Think about who is using the space while work is underway, including residents, visitors and workers moving through the area. Being clear about who may be affected can help guide decisions on access, controls, and communication.
Temporary works can change how spaces are used, increasing the likelihood of something going wrong. This is more noticeable in areas that are frequently used or where more people pass through, especially if the controls are not suited to how the space is actually being used.
Even short‑term changes can lead to more serious incidents, such as trips, falls or collisions. This is more likely in busy or shared areas, where people are moving through the space while work is taking place.
Safety measures may already be in place, but it is worth checking how well they are working in real conditions. If they are not practical or effective, it may be a sign that adjustments are needed.
A risk matrix can help you step through what could go wrong, how serious it could be, and how to prioritise your response.
Once risks are understood, the focus shifts to how temporary works are managed on site.
In many cases, this is less about adding new controls and more about checking how current arrangements are working in practice. For example, observing how people move through the space in real time can offer valuable insight into whether controls are clear, practical and easy to follow.
Limiting how work affects surrounding areas can help reduce risk. In practice, this may include:
If a hazard cannot be removed, consider alternatives that reduce the level of risk.
Limiting how temporary works affect surrounding areas can help reduce risk. In practice, this may include:
Engineering controls are physical measures used to reduce risk. This can include:
Administrative controls involve processes and procedures that help manage risks on common property. Examples include:
PPE can provide an additional layer of protection for workers when used alongside other controls. This may include:
These simple questions can help shift the focus from the task itself to how the space is experienced, thereby supporting safer, more considered outcomes.
Regular check-ins can also help temporary arrangements continue to reflect how the space is actually being used, not only how it was planned.
Looking for practical guidance on managing safety risks? SafeWork Australia explains what to consider and how to approach risk in real situations.
Temporary works may only be in place for a short time, but their impact on shared spaces is often immediate. Taking a moment to step back and look at how these changes affect access, movement and visibility can help committees better understand how quickly conditions can shift around the work.
Even small actions, such as checking how spaces are being used or clarifying responsibility, can reduce confusion and improve how safe the space feels for everyone. Focusing on how people experience these changes, not just how the work is completed, can make a meaningful difference.
Each state may have specific legislation and regulations concerning health and safety duties in owner corporations and bodies corporate. To help navigate these regulations, SafeWork Australia, a national policy body, offers a range of resources and tools to assist committees in managing hazards and risks. For the latest general WHS updates, guidance, and recommendations, please visit the official Safe Work website at safeworkaustralia.gov.au.
Our Community Health & Safety service is here to help support schemes with practical ways to manage these risks, while meeting their regulatory obligations. Through our resource library, online reporting system, and centralised repository, we are here to help support you in managing your health and safety obligations.
Whether you would like to report a current hazard or flag a near-miss incident, please use this report form to help manage health and safety risks on your common property.
Get an updated committee report of hazards, incidents, and work orders to help track and manage risks on common property.
Contact your strata, body corporate, or owners corporation manager for an up-to-date copy today.
Get an annual site inspection walkthrough of your common property to help spot new hazards and risks that arise over time. Contact your strata, body corporate, or owners corporation manager to organise an annual safety report for your property at a fee.
This guide is created by PICA Services Pty Ltd ABN 70 651 941 114 (PICA Group). Community Health & Safety is a part of the PICA Group. Usage of Community Health & Safety services may be subject to charges. We advise you to fully understand the terms of service or agency agreement and any potential fees associated before utilising this service. While PICA Group has taken every reasonable care in compiling the information in this flyer, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience only. PICA Group does not endorse or accept any responsibility for these websites’ content, use, or availability. PICA Group accepts no liability for any loss or damage caused by the use of or reliance on the information contained in this flyer or any links or third-party websites.
This guide has been adapted and derived from Safe Work Australia materials in May 2026 under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0), as listed below. To view a copy of this license, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. (SafeWork Australia). © Commonwealth of Australia.
