Safety competency framework national workshops

Perth Safety Framework Launch

Following the launch of the CRC for Construction Innovations Construction Safety Competency Framework by Federal Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews in Melbourne on 22 September, two further workshops have been held to launch the framework in Perth and Brisbane.

Project Leader Dean Cipolla, Group Safety Manager of John Holland and Wayne Artuso, Assistant Secretary, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations were keynote speakers at both workshops.

In Perth, the launch was hosted by Peter Tilley, Director Works Reform at the WA Department of Housing and Works and attracted 60 participants. Mr Tilley and Chris Kirwin, Chief Inspector Construction Regional & Primary Industries Branch, Worksafe, provided a local context regarding safety issues.

Dean Cipolla - Project Leader

In Brisbane, Max Smith, Deputy Director-General (Works), Department of Public Works and Bob Bills, Director, Department of Industrial Relations,provided a local context to safety issues in Queensland.

Speaking at the Brisbane launch, which attracted 120 registrants, Construction Innovation CEO Keith Hampson said the death of a 45 year old man in September on a Queensland construction site had bought to eight the number of workers who had died on construction sites in Queensland this year.

It is estimated one person a week dies on building and construction sites in Australia a fatality rate that is more than five times higher than the mining industry.

The competency framework provides a tool for enabling long-term cultural and behavioural change in the Australian building and construction industry to improve occupational health and safety practices.

The development of the framework is unique in terms of the scope of partnership and collaboration across industry, Government, researchers and unions to address the issue of site safety.

Following feedback from these workshops, Construction Innovation is looking at developing an implementation guide for industry.

In other research, Construction Innovations Safer Construction project, led by Tim Fleming of the John Holland Group, is developing a voluntary code of practice and toolkit for the Australian building and construction industry.