Safe work unit

In December, Artibus conducted webinars and face-to-face forums in capital cities and major regional centres throughout Australia in order to gather industry advice on a wide range of construction industry projects.  A issue common to all projects was the Construction IRC's recommendation that CPCCWHS1001  Prepare to work safely in the construction industry be included as a core unit in all Certificate I, II and III qualifications submitted to the AISC for endorsement. Safe Work Australia’s Model Code of Practice: Construction Work states that no one can undertake construction work unless they have completed general construction induction training. CPCCWHS1001, also known as the white card unit, encompasses the skills and knowledge required, and the IRC unanimously agreed that its inclusion as a core unit was important for work health and safety. More than 70% of employers supported the proposal. Support from RTO representatives was slightly less—60%—with many expressing concerns about the administrative burden this may cause.  The arguments and advice put forward by stakeholders have been summarised in the Cases for Endorsement to be assessed by the AISC in their February 2020 meeting.