Construction industry mentor program aims to improve safety

A new program launched by WorkCover NSW will see 10 medium and large construction companies, including Lend Lease Services, Eden Brae Homes and Mirvac, act as mentors to a number of builders from across NSW, helping them identify new ways to address safety in their workplace.

The acting general manager of WorkCover’s Work Health and Safety Division, Peter Dunphy, said the House Construction Industry Mentor Program provided construction businesses with the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership and safety expertise.

“While all builders know that a safe business is a productive one, finding the time to focus on safety and make improvements can be a challenge due to the many demands associated with running a small business,” Dunphy said.

“This is highlighted by the house construction industry having more than double the workers compensation claims for permanent disability of any other industry and makes finding innovative ways to improve safety in the industry a priority.

“As part of an industry action plan to improve safety and productivity in the industry, WorkCover is partnering with 10 medium and large construction companies so they can share their knowledge and expertise with a small construction business and help them improve safety on their construction sites.

“The mentors understand the work health and safety challenges mentees face on a daily basis and can suggest innovative solutions to safety, injury management and workers compensation issues.

“They also will work with mentees to address their specific areas of concern.

“As well as this, mentors will focus on the four major issues that have been identified in the house construction industry: falls through voids, the movement of people and materials on-site, sun safety and recovery at work after a workplace injury.”

To qualify as a mentee, builders, or any carpenters or plasterers they subcontract to, must employ less than 20 full-time workers and build less than 12 single- or double-storey houses a year.

“The house construction industry contributes $37.9 billion to the NSW economy and is one of the state’s most important,” Dunphy said.

“Unfortunately it also one of the highest risk, with 1312 workers compensation claims in the two years to July 2012 at a cost of $22 million to the NSW workers compensation scheme.”