Safety First: The Importance of OH&S Certification

Whether you’re walking in a wet area, chopping vegetables with a sharp knife, or operator a crane with a 10-tonne load, there’s one thing we should keep in mind at all times: safety first!

‘Safety first’ is an easy thing to just say and repeat, over and over again. But what does it actually mean?

On the construction site it means no cutting corners just to finish a job quicker, and keeping in mind at all times that your actions affect others on site.

This is why we have occupational health and safety (OH&S) certification, and why it’s mandatory to have completed safety training when working on a construction site. Let’s go through the importance of OH&S certification, and where to get the best safety training in Melbourne:

OH&S training saves lives

With modern OH&S certification, it’s been proven we can save hundreds of lives every year. Safety training is directly responsible for lowering the number of construction incidents and deaths and, in 2019, Australia reached its lowest rate of fatal injuries on the construction site, at 1.4 deaths per 100,000 workers. Safety training saves lives, which is why it’s such a huge part of construction work!

Efficiency

OH&S training has another benefit outside of safety, and that’s efficiency. Yes, it make work out quicker to cut corners once or twice, but in the long run, corner-cutting increases risk of accident, which slows everything down. OH&S certification minimises workplace injuries, which thereby minimises delays and increases efficiency. Thanks to safety training, we increase the efficiency of the construction site, as well as the wellbeing of our fellow workers.

Making workers more vigilant

OH&S certification forces workers to be more vigilant as programs us to constantly consider how our actions may affect our fellow team members. For example, imagine cutting a corner on your scaffolding job which led to its collapse and one of your mates getting hurt. Safety training plays a crucial role in raising vigilance levels so that an incident like this doesn’t occur to you or one of your mates.

Skill development

There’s no denying that safer work makes for better quality work. When working with high-powered machinery, heights, and lifting heavy items, your job carries some imminent safety risks. Construction training involves educating students about the safest ways to carry out daily duties on the site, reducing workplace accidents.

Currently, construction workers enjoy the safest conditions in industry history. At Construction Training International, we’re committed to continuing and bettering the OH&S certification of construction workers. As Victoria’s leading team in construction education, safety plays a huge role in our training courses. With real-life training facilities, the most dedicated, experienced staff, and affordable rates, CTI gives you the training and confidence you need to begin your career path in construction.