Federal Safety Commissioner urges management to “Set an example”

Federal Safety Commissioner Tom Fisher has urged senior managers in the building and construction industry to set an example for their employees and commit to a safety culture on Australian building sites.

The commissioner launched a new guide, Leaders in Safety, at a workplace safety and compensation conference held yesterday at the Menzies Hotel in Sydney.

The guide claims that leaders and senior managers can improve their business cultures by paying careful, systematic attention to their workplace and by committing to decrease deaths and injuries on construction sites.

The guide provides practical advice for senior managers to introduce, promote and maintain proper safety behaviour.

It covers case studies from Australian companies, with "key learning' data as well as chapters on changing specific mindsets which inhibit or exclude safe work practices.

In his message to senior managers, the commissioner asked for demonstrated commitment to safety; the integration of safe design principles into the risk assessment process; whole-project consultation and communication; demonstrated subcontractor OHS management; and whole-project performance measurement and training.