For many years Integrity New Homes maintained AS4801 Occupational Health & Safety Management System certification. While certification is no longer maintained the OHS processes have been incorporated into a range of policies, procedures and forms for use by franchisees.
As part of the standard specification paperwork all clients are required to sign a declaration at the contract stage to confirm they will comply with a franchisee’s OHS policy.
All clients are inducted (ie to ensure they have appropriate safety equipment and to make them aware of any new hazards since their last visit) each time they walk onto a construction site. Record documents are provided for franchisees and there is also a breach process whereby clients who have entered a building site without authorisation and without being inducted, are sent a written notice of breach.
A detailed OHS Manual has been created and the policies, procedures and forms it contains are used daily throughout the business. Work will start shortly on creating Version 7 of the INH OHS Manual. Safe building sites are really important given the numerous occasions on which clients visit their home during construction.
By focusing contractors on site safety and enforcing the elements required to achieve successful delivery, it is possible to see improvements in the quality and finish of work. For example, by actively removing trip hazards from sites, there are less materials left lying around which can cause damage to fixtures and fittings.
All OHS training is documented using dedicated paperwork which includes a feedback form for rating the training and allowing for participant feedback. Feedback and communication are a critical part of the OHS system and these forms form part of the paperwork reviewed during the audit process.
Shane Hearps recently carried out site training with Wayne Frank - Integrity New Homes Coffs Coast.
Other team members including Richard Bremner and Glenn Leet have carried out OHS training for franchisees all over Australia, including: Adelaide; the Gold Coast; Griffith; Melbourne; and Sydney.
For more information about an Integrity New Homes franchise please call Glenn Leet on ph: 0428 536 021.