Building and Construction Work Health and Safety Blueprint to 2026

The Building and Construction Work Health and Safety Blueprint to 2026 is a three year plan to reduce fatalities, injury and illness rates in the NSW building and construction industry.

The Blueprint focuses on major work health and safety (WHS) concerns, aligned to the SafeWork NSW Regulatory Priorities 2023.

On this page

Our goal

Through our actions, we aim to see:

  • 20% reduction in frequency of fatalities, injury and illness in workplaces which SafeWork NSW have engaged in previous 12 month period
  • 20% reduction in incidents across the zero tolerance harm areas (falls from heights, electrical and moving plant)
  • 100% of identified high risk PCBUs receive targeted SafeWork NSW engagement activities
  • 25% increase in PCBU compliance following SafeWork NSW engagement in previous 12 month period
  • 50% increase in awareness in 12 months to ensure all duty holders understand their work health and safety obligations and can address compliance issues
  • 50% increase in risk-based prosecutions
  • 100% compliance action taken when zero tolerance harms are observed.

Our data

Through data analysis and industry consultation, we have identified the highest harms and industry issues:

Residential house construction (class 1)

  • falls from heights
  • falls on the same level
  • contact with electricity
  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • asbestos exposure
  • crystalline silica exposure
  • mental health
  • fatigue.

Multi storey or mixed use construction (class 2)

  • falls from heights
  • falling objects
  • falls on the same level
  • contact with electricity
  • hitting moving objects
  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • crystalline silica exposure
  • mental health
  • fatigue.

Infrastructure, including renewables

  • falls from heights
  • falling objects
  • moving plant / vehicles
  • contact with electricity
  • exposure to hazardous noise
  • crystalline silica exposure
  • mental health
  • fatigue.

Contributing factors to fatalities and illness:

  • lack of safety practices, training and knowledge
  • hazards such as heights, material and incorrect safety equipment
  • lack of supervision and qualified supervisors
  • time pressure to meet deadlines
  • culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) workers lacking additional support to understand information or instructions
  • skills and resources shortage
  • currency of licences, such as licences for high risk work, general construction induction training, asbestos.

Our actions

Outcome

Compliance programs focused on upholding industry standards.

Tactic

SafeWork NSW will:

  • deliver targeted programs to address priority harms
  • apply a zero tolerance approach to identified contraventions of priority harms
  • hold PCBUs responsible for failure to apply the appropriate hierarchy of controls in the workplace
  • actively pursue and escalate effective enforcement measures for PCBUs who repeatedly offend
  • provide clear guidance on what compliance looks like
  • ensure compliance programs include a focus on site supervision, controls are maintained and competency of high-risk workplace licence holders.

Outcome

Build communities of safe work practice through collaboration with industry and other regulators, to improve the embedding of WHS best practice.

Tactic

SafeWork NSW will:

  • encourage PCBUs to actively assess and positively influence the implementation and outcomes of safety systems used by infrastructure delivery partners
  • encourage and promote innovation through collaborative forums and showcasing events
  • undertake state-wide targeted and tailored collaboration with residential house construction and multi storey/mixed use construction PCBUs.

Outcome

Equip PCBUs and workers with the necessary knowledge and skills to maintain a safe and healthy work environment.

Tactic

SafeWork NSW will:

  • continue to collaboratively develop resources addressing specific risks, promote safety awareness, and ensure compliance with applicable regulations and best practices
  • produce and distribute education and guidance material to provide clarity on the role of supervisors and their responsibilities
  • support the development of communities of practice to ensure supervisors have access to networks and support to build WHS knowledge
  • develop targeted communications for owners, directors, supervisors and workers focused on best practice, what compliance looks like and highlighting the risk of non-compliance.

Outcome

Supporting, protecting and intervening where workers are at greatest risk.

Tactic

SafeWork NSW will:

  • continue to ensure education and compliance programs consider the needs of vulnerable works such as young workers, CALD workers
  • support CALD workers to have translators available and support materials that build WHS knowledge
  • promote workplace advisory visits to small businesses
  • support the supply of information and advice to regional builders and workers
  • share with industry data relating to PCBUs’ poor WHS practices and construction related court outcomes.

Evaluation and reporting

We will review this plan every year and commit to working with industry to check our progress, consider changes or opportunities, and to ensure new or emerging harms are identified and addressed.

Our progress will be measured using indicators that include:

  • all duty holders understanding their work health and safety obligations
  • improved PCBU capacity and capability to understand and address compliance issues as part of the awareness and engagement process
  • satisfaction and trust in SafeWork NSW as a regulator
  • continued decline in workplace fatalities and serious injuries and illnesses in NSW.
Back to top