Page 604 - Week 02 - Thursday, 20 March 2014
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tendering against companies who have less regard for safety. On the contrary, this initiative will encourage companies to distinguish themselves from their competitors by virtue of the quality of their safety systems.
The government is only too well aware of the importance of the construction sector to our economy, but our support is predicated on ensuring the safety of all construction workers. Companies are now aware that when they sign a government construction contract they will be regularly audited. I am advised by the Commerce and Works Directorate that audits are showing a high level of compliance—more than 90 per cent—and a willingness to quickly rectify any identified issues. I am also advised that the directorate has not been required to review the prequalification status of any company to date.
Rather than see such audits as an imposition, contractors have recognised the value of the audits as a tool to help them improve their practice. While the audits have identified issues, including traffic management and site monitoring, I am advised that these have been, in the main, resolved quickly. I am also advised that no stop-work notices have been applied to government jobs since commencement of the scheme. This is an excellent result. Further, I am advised that the audits have resulted in overall improvements in the areas of emergency preparedness, consultation and communication, subcontractor management, training and risk management.
Shared Services Procurement continues the work they have done to assist industry to transition to the new policy with ongoing feedback and reporting after every audit. This process has allowed an open and honest communication in identifying issues and putting in place mechanisms that allow continuous improvement of work health and safety throughout the sector.
Ongoing consultation with stakeholders, including the CFMEU, MBA and HIA, have highlighted significant support for the active certification policy. Shared Services Procurement is currently working with WorkSafe ACT and the MBA to develop a series of workshops designed to improve risk assessment, competency-based work health and safety roles, site-based plant movement plans and working in the vicinity of live traffic.
This is all good news. It emphasises the main theme of the Getting home safely report, and what I have continually said since that time—safety is not only the responsibility of industry; it is not only the responsibility of workers; it is not only the responsibility of government. Safety is the result of collaboration and communication, and I am pleased to see this is starting to happen.
To further demonstrate the government’s commitment to lead by example, guidelines are being finalised for directorates who manage construction projects. The guidelines will require directorates to undertake risk assessments in order to decide the appropriate level of oversight for a project. The risk assessment takes into account the individual factors of the work, including its scale, location, the context of the project and anticipated risks.
There still remains room for improvement. Following the introduction of on-the-spot fines in July 2013, I am advised that in the period to the end of January this year
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