Working in building and construction is dangerous. Over the last 5 years, an average of 29 construction workers a year have been killed at work. 

To drive higher safety standards, when building work is funded by the Australian Government it requires the head contractor builder engaged to undertake that work to be accredited under the the Scheme (subject to certain monetary thresholds and exemptions). The Scheme requires head contractor builders to demonstrate an effective Work Health and Safety Management System (WHSMS) and on-site implementation of the system to manage construction hazards and high-risk activities.

• Builders accredited under the Scheme have lower injury frequency rates than the building and construction industry average. 
• Accredited builders pay less in workers’ compensation premium rates over time. After six years of accreditation, 61 percent of companies reduced their premiums by an average of 38 percent.  
• Accredited builders are eligible to work as head contractor on any Australian Government-funded building works.  
• Federal Safety Officers (FSOs) provide accredited builders with ongoing advice and information during audits to better improve their WHSMS and ongoing compliance with the Scheme.

Accreditation under the Scheme requires a head contractor builder to satisfy the Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) that they have and are implementing appropriate work health and safety policies, procedures and safe work practices. This requires a head contractor builder to: 

• have a documented WHSMS
• have experience in managing construction hazards and high-risk activities
• have a positive workplace safety record with low rates of injury, particularly serious injuries
• demonstrate through an onsite audit that the head contractor builder’s documented WHSMS complies with the FSC Audit Criteria and is being implemented on a live construction project
• declare they are complying, and will comply with, the performance requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) that relate to building materials, as specifically required by the Scheme.  

Newly accredited head contractor builders are generally accredited for 3 years. To maintain accreditation, head contractor builders must: 

• at all times have and implement appropriate WHS policies, procedures and safe work practices
• undergo regular audits to confirm ongoing compliance with the FSC Audit Criteria (audits are typically every 6-12 months)

•  report to the FSC: 

   - every 6 months on the builders’ safety performance and contracted works by submitting a Scheme Biannual Report that covers a range of project data and WHS performance indicators (such as workers’ compensation premium rates and claim incident rates) 

  - on notifiable safety incidents that occur on their projects involving their own employees and subcontractors.  

• comply with the performance requirements of the National Construction Code relating to building materials. 

For more information refer to:

• Auditing
• Accredited Company Reporting
• Formal Notification of Changes to WHS Accreditation Scheme Reporting Requirements – June 2023
• What does accreditation mean for Subcontractors?

A number of small and medium residential builders have now gained Scheme accreditation through the OFSC’s streamlined Housing Australia priority accreditation process. We asked these builders about their experiences.

• Costs of getting accredited

Most residential builders advised us that the costs to get accredited were relatively low. Many builders noted that existing WHS staff were able to work on the Scheme application and WHSMS transition process collaboratively with the OFSC’s FSO to achieve accreditation. The OFSC covers the costs of onsite audits and provides up to 40 hours of FSO assistance to all Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF)-related residential builders working towards meeting Scheme requirements. The cost to gain accreditation will vary for each builder based on the builder’s current WHSMS maturity and safety resources already in place.

• Ease of accreditation

Many residential builders entered the accreditation process anticipating that it was going to be “daunting,” “full on,” or “unrealistic.” However, once the process began, they saw that it was wasn’t as difficult as they originally thought. Builders noted that being paired up with a FSO to assist them was a positive and effective experience. They reported that the FSOs were knowledgeable and helpful, providing useful guidance. FSOs worked through the FSC audit criteria systematically with them, regularly checking in with them throughout the process. One builder said that if they’d known how easy the process was going to be they would have gotten accredited much sooner.

• Preconceptions about accreditation – myth versus reality

Some residential companies we spoke to had negative preconceptions about the Scheme before they applied, holding concerns about the accreditation process being overly strict and how long it would take to close out any corrective action reports (CARs) raised at their audits, which would ultimately lead to a delay in accreditation being granted. None of these concerns were warranted. Builders found the initial desktop systems validation audit (SVA) following application to be a straightforward process which allowed them to find and rectify any gaps in their WHSMS prior to progressing to an on-site audit. The FSO’s availability and assistance meant that any CARs raised were able to be understood, addressed and then closed out quickly. One builder considered engaging a third-party consultant to assist them with their accreditation, but once they met and spoke with their assigned FSO realised they could get through the process.