Understanding the Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme

The Australian government is working to champion a cooperative approach to improve OHS performance in the building and construction industry. The development of the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme (the Scheme) is one way that the government is using its purchasing power to influence change.

The program is administered by the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner (OFSC), located within the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The role of the OFSC is to promote and improve OHS within the Australian building and construction industry, by providing administrative support to the functions of the Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC), who works with industry and government stakeholders towards achieving the highest possible occupational health and safety standards on Australian building and construction projects.

The Scheme operates such that, subject to certain thresholds, only head contractors who are accreditated under the Scheme can enter into contracts for building work that is funded directly or indirectly by the Australian government.

The threshold for directly funded contracts was lowered to a minimum of $3 million as of 1 October 2007, when the Act was amended. Projects are considered to be directly funded where an Australian government agency has responsibility for the project funding and development, for example a Defence facility, Medicare or Centrelink office or a fit-out or refurbishment of existing Australian government office accommodation.

The Scheme applies to projects indirectly funded by the Australian government where:

• the value of the Australian government contribution to the project is at least $5 million and represents at least 50% of the total construction project value; or
• the Australian government contribution to a project is $10 million or more, irrespective of the proportion of Australian government funding.

Projects are considered indirectly funded where an Australian government agency contributes funding to a third-party recipient, such as a state government, through funding agreements, grants and other programs, for example road construction projects funded by the Australian government or a new school built by a state government using funding provided by the Australian government.

The Scheme enables the government to use its influence as a client and provider of capital to improve the construction industry’s OHS performance. The Australian government aims to promote the idea that work must be performed safely as well as on budget and on time.

Scheme criteria

Achieving accreditation is a two-stage assessment process comprising a desktop assessment and on-site audit.

Applicants must satisfy the following criteria to obtain accreditation:

1. Evidence of an OHS management system, which needs to be certified to Australian Standard AS/NZS 4801:2001 ‘Occupational health and safety management systems — Specifications with guidance for use or, alternatively, certified to OHSAS 18001:1999 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems — Specifications’. Certification needs to be undertaken by a Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) accredited certification body.

2. Demonstrated ability to manage construction hazards and high risk activities.

3. Record in relation to workplace safety.

4. On-site audit results.

5. Performance against the following focus points:
i. demonstrated senior management commitment to OHS;
ii. integration of safe design principles into the risk management process;
iii. whole of project OHS consultation and communication;
iv. demonstrated effective subcontractor OHS management arrangements across building and construction projects;
v. whole of project performance measurement; and
vi. OHS training and competency to deal with safety risks.

On successful completion of the desktop assessment, an initial on-site audit will be arranged.

The federal safety officer conducting the audit may request documentary evidence in accordance with the criteria to verify the implementation of OHS procedures and practices on site. This process is separate to the initial documentary evidence review carried out at the desktop assessment stage.

The FSC will make the final decision on accreditation taking into account the findings of both the desktop assessment and the on-site audit. 

 www.fsc.gov.au.