OFSC audit activities revised due to COVID-19 restrictions

Federal Safety Commissioner David Denney has released a statement, detailing revisions to the OFSC Audit Arrangements in Victoria, to reflect the current changes in the building and construction industry brought on by COVID-19. After considering medical advice and reviewing safety risks to workers of accredited companies and to Federal Safety Officers (FSOs), Commissioner Denney advised that OFSC will further modify its audit activities in Melbourne and Victoria, until COVID-19 restrictions ease.

Commissioner Denney has limited audits in the Melbourne area to responding to serious safety incidents and fatalities only. Although Victoria is largely in Stage 3 restrictions, Commissioner Denney announced that he will adopt the same approach to audits across Victoria as in Melbourne, due to the risk of spreading COVID-19 to uninfected/less infected areas, by using FSOs who move between Stage 4 and Stage 3 restricted areas to conduct work.

Commissioner Denney acknowledged that this could delay accreditation for a small number of companies, due to audits not being conducted in Victoria in the short term. However, this was deemed a necessary consequence of putting the health and safety of all Victorians first. Accredited companies that are continuing to operate are urged to keep an eye on COVID-19 risks and on any other high-risk construction activities they undertake. Commissioner Denney said that the OFSC will continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 on its operations, and will provide further updates as required.

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