NSW HSE SUBCONTRACTOR BREAKFAST

Our quarterly subcontractor HSE breakfast started with a beautiful Sydney morning, with croissants and coffee over the sparkling water at Rushcutters Bay Yacht Club, over 60 Subcontractor Management Representatives, from all 3 projects in NSW attended the breakfast with the purpose to engage with Probuild as we work together to make our industry safer. Probuild NSW Managing Director Nick Gaudry opened the formalities with a welcome and quick update including the introduction of the new construction Manager Elliot Howse, then HSE Manager Josephine Taylor gave a Probuild campaign update including the Falling Objects frequency rate and the current campaign objectives being implemented to reduce the incidence rate together.  

Probuild was supported by SafeWork NSW Inspectors, who gave a presentation on their new App, Speak up NSW – this was developed by SafeWork out of some of the findings from the tragic death of the young formworker Christopher Cassaniti, killed onsite earlier this year.  

The intent of the App is to give a voice to the young and vulnerable, those who find it difficult to speak up or raise a concern on a large or small project – it is also in line with how many young people communicate, industry and business must keep finding the best ways to use technology and the appropriate communication avenues to involve all workers onsite. 

Probuild were additionally supported by Hilti, with John Fisher and Dr Martin Stirling, Hilti have been partnering with MLC team on a silica reduction program including the trial use of industrial air purifiers, Dr Martin Stirling, a industry expert on Respirable Silica, presented an interesting and practical knowledge packed presentation for Managers to help understand the risks and controls.  

The morning was closed by NSW Estimating Manager, Anthony Nicec, who presented a new HSE initiative, where tendering contractors must submit a returnable schedule with their pricing to be eligible for consideration during the tender, this aims at collecting all good initiatives and safety ideas and aligning our business with like-minded contractors. 

It was a successful morning from all accounts, with great networking and discussion that would otherwise not be available to some contractors, thanks to all involved in organising the event.