Applying offshore safety case principles to onshore construction

Abstract

The Australian resources industry’s safety statistics lag behind other parts of the world, although a step change is underway as contractors look to deliver the outstanding performance clients and the broader public expect. Clough is embedding a TQM, or top-to-bottom risk management strategy, through all levels of the organisation. This starts with identifying the legislative requirements, assessing the inherent hazards of specific scopes of work, and establishing the minimum controls to support safe and reliable behaviour in the field. These hazard assessments are then cascaded down through each project team, which applies them to the various stages of the project lifecycle. This results in a holistic approach to safety and ultimately ensures the critical risks and controls are understood and followed at the worksite. This extended abstract shares Clough’s experience in developing its TQM system and it looks at how the Australian resources industry can adopt a common approach to safety risk management so it becomes a tangible part of daily business. Successful implementation requires strong cultural discipline, clear values, and alignment between clients and contractors. In Clough’s experience, success relies on training and development coupled with accountability and empowerment of staff and contractors. This promotes ongoing engagement in the process and a commitment to safety learning in everything they do.