Reminder on compulsory training for construction industry
Issue Date: - Tuesday, 27 November 2007
WorkSafe has issued a reminder to workers in the construction industry that they need to hold a new Construction Safety Awareness Card by the end of the year.
WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said today construction workers who did not have a card by then would not be able to work in the industry until they had one.
“The law required workers to have completed an accredited safety awareness training program by January 1, 2007,” Ms Lyhne said.
“But workers who already held an induction card – for instance, a “green card” – had their cards recognised as valid through to this coming January 1, giving them an extra 12 months in which to update their training.
“Throughout this year, it has been illegal for anyone to work in the construction industry without holding a green card or having done the training, and it has been illegal for an employer to employ any worker who had not undergone accredited safety training.
“As from January 1, 2008, the old green cards will expire and every worker in the construction industry will have to hold the new Construction Safety Awareness Card if they wish to work in the industry.”
The training required for the new card does not take the place of worksite-specific or task-specific training, which an employer still needs to provide in order to fulfill their duty of care to provide a safe workplace.
The amendment to the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations that made the new card compulsory actually came into effect in July 2005, but the industry was given a long lead-in period in which to complete the training.
“WorkSafe has issued around 180,000 Construction Safety Awareness Cards to date, so it appears that the take-up rate has been good,” Ms Lyhne said.
“But we still need to remind construction workers that they will not be able to work in the industry after January 1 if they have not completed the compulsory training and received the card.”
Further information on construction industry safety awareness training can be obtained by telephoning WorkSafe on 9327 8777 or on the website at www.worksafe.wa.gov.au.