Focus on industry house construction post intervention survey summary 2015-2016
Overview
The house construction industry includes employers engaged in the construction of, or carrying out alterations, additions, renovations, modifications or general repairs to houses, semi-detached houses, duplexes and low-rise flats, units and town houses or in organising or managing these activities as the prime contractor.
SafeWork NSW has been working with this industry intensively since early 2014 via the following interventions:
- Short-clip videos
- Interactions and presentations at industry events
- Launch of a mentor program
- Webinars
- Workplace visit programs – awareness and targeted visits
SafeWork engaged Jetty Research in 2015 as an external contractor to undertake a telephone survey to identify changes resulting from these interventions, particularly the SafeWork NSW targeted project visits.
Benefits of the survey
The results of this survey are being used to inform improvements to those construction programs by obtaining post-intervention business intelligence about:
- Current level of awareness and knowledge of the identified high risk issues and controls
- Level of controls in place to manage industry specific hazards
- Systematic approach to workplace health and safety (site management / planning and scheduling)
- Approaches to injury management and return to work
- Impact of SafeWork products and services
- 459 Persons who Control a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) invited to participate as part of the targeted visit initiative
Respondents
- 182 telephone surveys were conducted
- 56 per cent of those surveyed recalled speaking to SafeWork in the last twelve months
- 84 per cent were small builders
Survey results
Movement of material
| 15/16 results | 14/15 results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 84% | Of respondents believe it is a moderate/major problem | 30% | Of respondents believe it is a moderate/major problem |
| 81% | Are confident enough to control the risks | 76% | Are confident enough to control the risks |
Sun exposure
| 15/16 results | 14/15 results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 97% | Of respondents believe that sun exposure is a problem and are confident they know enough to control the risks | 90% | Of respondents believe that sun exposure is a problem and 95% are confident they know enough to control the risks |
Plan & Schedule
| 15/16 results | 14/15 results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 78% | Plan and schedule material deliveries | 83% | Plan and schedule material deliveries |
Falls through voids
| 15/16 results | 14/15 results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 92% | Are very aware of the risks of falls through voids | 48% | Are very aware of the risks of falls through voids |
| 84% | Are very confident they know enough to control the risk | 99% | Are very confident they know enough to control the risk |
Site Specific Plans
| 15/16 results | 14/15 results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 67% use site specific management plans and ensure workers follow the plan through: | 81% use site specific management plans and ensure workers follow the plan through: | ||
| 53% | Regular supervision | 88% | Regular supervision |
| 53% | Tool box talks | 74% | Tool box talks |
| 46% | Site induction | 74% | Site induction |
Return to Work
| 15/16 results | 14/15 results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 41% | Have a documented plan | 52% | Have a documented plan |
| 93% | Have made that program accessible to workers | 87% | Have made that program accessible to workers |
| 36% | Believe their workers access the program | No comparative question in 15/16 | |
| 71% | Think the best place for an injured worker to recover is at home, work or a combination of both | 65% | Think the best place for an injured worker to recover is at home, work or a combination of both |
Recommendations
Overall it appears that the intervention and engagement activities are working. In addition to the positive results indicating an improvement in knowledge and awareness post-intervention, fifteen per cent of PCBUs have identified they would like further information and assistance from SafeWork in the areas of:
- Asbestos
- Workers compensation / return to work
- Working at heights
- WHS in general
- Publications
These matters will be followed up as appropriate.
Further information
A copy of the full report is available by contacting gipa@safework.nsw.gov.au.