Safety: building it right without relying on luck

FCANZ

Sep 8

5 min read

We all love a good deck – just not one that moves independently of the house.

Retaining walls, decks and structural builds are a common sight across New Zealand, from residential subdivisions and commercial builds to farm tracks, races, banks and lifestyle blocks. Whether you’re holding back soil on a hillside, creating level ground, or building something elevated, these structures are expected to do one simple thing: stay put.

These structures play a critical role in both functionality and safety. However, they also carry significant risks if not designed, constructed and maintained correctly.

With falls from height, ground collapse, struck by incidents and structural failure consistently featuring in construction injury statistics, safety must be front of mind at every stage of retaining wall and deck construction.

But when safety is rushed, assumed, or shrugged off with a ‘she’ll be right’, gravity, weather and ground conditions have a habit of reminding us who’s really in charge.

At Rural Safe, we see the same patterns time and again. The good news? Most incidents around retaining walls, decks and structures – urban or rural – are completely preventable with a bit of planning, the right gear, and knowing when to stop before something goes sideways.

Start with the boring stuff (it saves pain later)

Design, engineering and consents might not be exciting, but they’re what separate a solid structure from one that becomes a future mystery. Many retaining walls and decks in New Zealand require building consent and, in some cases, engineering input – particularly when they’re over 1.5 metres high, supporting loads, close to boundaries, or part of a habitable space.

This is just as important in rural settings. Cutting into banks for races, tracks, yards or shed access often feels informal because ‘it’s just on the farm’. But the moment ground is excavated or loaded, assumptions stop working.

The ground lies (especially in NZ)

New Zealand soil is unpredictable. Today’s dry ground can turn into a collapsing mess tomorrow. Unsupported excavations, spoil piles too close to edges, and machinery operating near drop-offs are major risk factors.

Retaining work often involves excavation, and trench collapse remains a serious risk. Poor ground conditions, saturated soils and vibration from machinery can quickly destabilise excavations.

The moment you cut into a bank, drive along it, or load it with material, everything changes – especially in rural environments where older, compacted soils and hidden water paths are common.

If someone says, “It’s never moved before”, treat that as a warning, not reassurance.

Key safety controls include:

Assessing soil type and ground conditions before excavation
Benching, battering or shoring deeper excavations
Keeping plant, materials and spoil away from edges
Providing safe access and egress

Workers should never enter an unsupported excavation unless controls are in place, and changing weather conditions must be monitored closely.

Drainage and weather: quiet problems that become loud ones

Drainage is one of the most underestimated risks in retaining wall construction.

Water builds pressure.
Pressure causes movement.
Movement causes failure.

This is especially critical in rural retaining where:

Stock pressure adds load
Natural springs and seepage zones exist
Water troughs, races or drains are nearby

Drainage needs to be installed as construction progresses – not treated as a future problem. Add New Zealand weather into the mix, and ground stability can change overnight.

Stopping work during poor conditions is allowed. Rebuilding collapsed walls isn’t cheap.

Decks, heights, and the ‘just jump up there’ trap

Decks and elevated structures bring height into the mix – and falls don’t need drama to cause damage.

All it takes is one slip, one misplaced step, or one moment of overconfidence. Ladders are popular, but they’re best for access, not for doing work.

Better practice includes:

Temporary edge protection installed early
Scaffolding or platforms instead of ladders
Clear exclusion zones below elevated work areas
Good housekeeping to prevent slips and trips

If you hear, “I’ll just jump up there quickly”, that’s often when accidents decide to clock in.

Big gear, heavy stuff and slopes that don’t forgive mistakes

Retaining and structural jobs often involve excavators, tractors, loaders, concrete pours and heavy materials – frequently on sloping or uneven ground.

Plant doesn’t see people. Materials don’t stop rolling. Gravity never takes a smoko break.

In both urban and rural settings, safe work means:

Keeping people and machinery separated
Using spotters where visibility is limited
Setting exclusion zones during lifts and pours
Storing posts, blocks and timber so they can’t shift or roll downhill

Machinery tipping and materials striking workers are common risks when working close to banks and cut edges – particularly when trying to “reach just a bit further”.

If the edge starts crumbling under tracks, it’s already telling you something.

Dealing with materials and manual handling

Timber, steel, concrete blocks and posts can be heavy, awkward and unstable when handled incorrectly. Repetitive lifting and twisting can result in long-term musculoskeletal injuries.

Safer approaches include:

Using mechanical aids where possible
Team lifting for larger materials
Storing materials securely to prevent rolling or collapse
Allowing enough space for safe handling

Material storage should consider site slope and ground conditions, particularly around retaining wall edges.

Training, supervision and communication

Even well designed safety systems fail without proper supervision and communication. All workers should understand the hazards specific to the job and their role in managing them.

Good practice includes:

Site specific inductions
Regular toolbox meetings as work stages change
Clear supervision, especially for less experienced workers
Immediate reporting and management of near misses

Safety plans should evolve as the job progresses, particularly when transitioning from groundworks to structural and elevated work.

PPE: the last line of defence

PPE won’t fix poor planning, but it reduces the damage when things don’t go to plan – and on construction and rural sites, they eventually will.

Minimum PPE should include:

Safety helmets when working under banks, structures or around lifting
High visibility clothing, especially around plant and farm machinery
Steel cap boots for uneven ground and rolling materials
Eye protection for cutting, drilling and concrete work
Task appropriate gloves – not just whatever’s in the ute

PPE only works if it fits properly, is in good condition, and is worn consistently – not just when someone important is watching.

Rural sites aren’t casual sites. They’re often more unpredictable, not less.

Fatigue, stress and the end-of-day danger zone

Many serious incidents don’t happen first thing in the morning – they happen when people are tired, rushed, or trying to “just finish this bit”.

Rural retaining often adds:

Long workdays
Distance from help
Working alone or in small teams

Signs fatigue and stress are creeping in include shortcuts, skipped PPE, mistakes and poor communication.

Practical controls still apply:

Take proper breaks
Rotate demanding tasks
Call it when concentration drops
Look out for each other

No wall, deck or bank is worth someone getting hurt because they were exhausted.

Building structures that last – safely

Retaining walls, decks and structural builds are designed to last decades. The same commitment should apply to safety during construction. Investing time upfront in planning, competent design, training and hazard management not only reduces the risk of injury – it improves build quality and protects reputations.

In an industry where shortcuts can have devastating consequences, doing the job safely isn’t just compliance. It’s good building practice.

The Rural Safe reality check

Good retaining walls don’t lean. Good decks don’t wobble. Good structures don’t rely on luck.

Whether it’s beside a house, a race, a shed or halfway up a hill, retaining work deserves the same planning, design and safety thinking – sometimes more.

Build it right. Build it safe. And let gravity do what it does best – minding its own business.

Brought to you by Rural Safe.

Deb and the team

Published in WIRED issue 81/June 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

Read WIRED online