Recent News
Also available - archived news from 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2004-2006
2010
Updated Model Clauses and Guidance for Australian Government Agencies and Funding Recipients - 12 March 2010
The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner has updated two key documents related to the application of the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme (the Scheme).
The Model Clauses are for use by Australian Government agencies and recipients of Australian Government funding when applying the Scheme. The document provides recommended clauses for use in tenders, contract and funding agreements or grant documentation.
The Guidance for Australian Government Agencies and Funding Recipients is for people procuring building work; for people delivering and managing funding agreements, grants and programs; and for recipients of Australian Government funding for building work. The document provides clear direction on roles and responsibilities about the Scheme, checklists and relevant forms.
For more information please call the FSC Assist Line on 1800 652 500 or visit the Scheme Documentation.
FSC alerts companies to the risk of submitting reaccreditation applications late - 11 March 2010
Today the FSC expressed concern in relation to the number of companies who had submitted their applications for reaccreditation less than six months from their expiry date, and noted that a number of these companies have subsequently had their accreditation lapse. Ms Marshall said "I strongly recommend that accredited companies submit their applications at least six months prior to their current accreditation expiry date. This provides my Office with sufficient time to conduct the desktop assessment and audit and also allows leeway in cases where documentation is incomplete or if there is difficulty arranging a suitable site to audit".
The six month deadline is particularly important if the company is working on a Scheme project or intending to tender for building work funded by the Australian Government. Ms Marshall confirmed “should accreditation lapse after the application has been received the company will be listed on my website as being in the reaccreditation process. The implication of this is that the Australian Government cannot enter into a contract for directly or indirectly funded building work with the company until reaccreditation is achieved".
Accreditation under the Scheme is approved for a period of up to three years. At the end of this time, to maintain accreditation under the Scheme, companies must reapply for accreditation. This is known as ‘reaccreditation’.
If you have any queries on the reaccreditation process please contact the FSC Assist Line on 1800 652 500. Further information, including frequently asked questions and factsheets on the reaccreditation process can also be found on the Reaccreditation section.
Federal Safety Commissioner recognises outstanding safety achievement - 5 February 2010
The Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) Helen Marshall is extremely pleased to see one of our accredited companies, Macmahon Contractors, reaping the rewards of having a strong safety culture.
The team at the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility in Darwin recently achieved an outstanding milestone of 8 years without a single lost time injury or a reportable environmental incident. This is a particularly notable achievement given the facility operates 365 days per year.
The FSC congratulates Jimmy Mann and his Shoal Bay team for their commitment to safety, and encourages all contractors to strive for similar results.
FSC releases 'lessons learnt' report from formwork incident – 15 January 2010
At the Federal Safety Commissioner's (FSC) CEO Forum held in August 2008, key leaders from the construction industry agreed to demonstrate their commitment to OHS by sharing lessons learnt. This commitment was made to encourage a culture of knowledge sharing and reduce incidents on building sites.
Federal Safety Commissioner Helen Marshall is pleased to release a report provided by an accredited builder sharing lessons learnt from an incident relating to formwork failure.
"I am encouraged that the builder on this project has taken the initiative to share their OHS related experience in a way that can benefit others in the industry," Ms Marshall said.
“I encourage other builders and civil contractors to submit details of incidents or initiatives that have resulted in lessons learnt or the implementation of new systems.”
The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner has provided this report for information purposes only. It is not a substitute for independent professional advice and readers are encouraged to obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances.
First company achieves reaccreditation - 6 January 2010
The Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC), Helen Marshall, is very pleased to announce that Watpac Construction (NSW) Pty Ltd have become the first company to achieve reaccreditation under the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme (the Scheme).
Under the Scheme, companies are accredited for a period of up to three years. At the end of this period, companies need to reapply for accreditation - this is known as ‘reaccreditation’. Reaccreditation is a requirement of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement (Accreditation Scheme) Regulations 2005.
Ric Wang, Watpac Construction (NSW) State Manager of Construction, praised the significant improvements that have been made since the original accreditation process in terms of quality, appropriateness of auditors, and timeliness of responses.
The FSC looks forward to reaccrediting more companies in the coming months, and suggests applications for reaccreditation be submitted at least six months prior to their current expiry date to reduce the risk of accreditation lapsing.
Today the FSC expressed concern in relation to the number of companies who had submitted their applications for reaccreditation less than six months from their expiry date, and noted that a number of these companies have subsequently had their accreditation lapse. Ms Marshall said "I strongly recommend that accredited companies submit their applications at least six months prior to their current accreditation expiry date. This provides my Office with sufficient time to conduct the desktop assessment and audit and also allows leeway in cases where documentation is incomplete or if there is difficulty arranging a suitable site to audit".
The six month deadline is particularly important if the company is working on a Scheme project or intending to tender for building work funded by the Australian Government. Ms Marshall confirmed “should accreditation lapse after the application has been received the company will be listed on my website as being in the reaccreditation process. The implication of this is that the Australian Government cannot enter into a contract for directly or indirectly funded building work with the company until reaccreditation is achieved".
Accreditation under the Scheme is approved for a period of up to three years. At the end of this time, to maintain accreditation under the Scheme, companies must reapply for accreditation. This is known as ‘reaccreditation’.
If you have any queries on the reaccreditation process please contact the FSC Assist Line on 1800 652 500. Further information, including frequently asked questions and factsheets on the reaccreditation process can also be found on the Reaccreditation section.