To help counter this alarming statistic, PaQS (People and Quality Solutions) a registered training organisation has launched a new online safety course tailored to the construction sector.

The course has evolved from the original, nationally recognised, competency based course in Advanced Safety Awareness (ASA). The new construction industry ASA course is different from the original, in that it is available online and has been designed and developed to fit into the construction sector’s safety induction programs.

The course is designed to develop construction worker’s attitude towards safety as well as their confidence and self esteem through building self awareness. It also provides them with tips about communication skills that enable them to deal with issues such as conflict and bullying. This emphasis on empowering the individual is fundamental to all of PaQS safety training.

According to PaQS senior psychologist and founder, Carl Reams, the PaQS ethos is new for personal safety management in Australia, as it targets human error by developing and enhancing individual safety thinking and responsibility. Most experts agree that more than 90% of workplace incidents, injuries and fatalities have some human error element.

“Traditionally, safety training has focused on visible workplace hazard awareness and training job skills, but what we deal with, Personal or Psychological Safety Awareness (PSA) evolves safety to a new level by focussing on the individual’s abilities and motivations – the safety thinking that drives behaviour,” adds Carl.

“Excellent work had been done in Australia over recent decades to improve safety systems and procedures and identify management responsibilities, but there hasn’t been much other than skills or systems-based training for the managers and employees. What PaQS is doing is developing rational judgement, perception and personal motivation to follow safety systems and that’s what makes our style of safety training so different.”

The benefit to employers and the construction sector at large is obvious when looking at the modules of the online safety training course – workplace culture concepts designed to develop workplace values; supervision attitudes; safety thinking; perception and judgement; and advanced safety awareness.

Construction workers can complete the course at their own pace, usually in less than two hours. A login and logout feature is available 24/7 providing flexibility and convenience for both the apprentice and their supervisor. Feedback from participants has been incredibly positive, with many finding the psychological approach to safety more comprehensive and the structure of the online course to be user friendly and efficient.

PaQS (People and Quality Solutions) is a training and coaching organisation that specialises in the unique areas of personal performance and development. Their programs aim to make constructive attitude and behavioural change.

PaQS’ safety training programs focus on culture and individual empowerment rather than processes & procedures. This mainly comprises face-to-face training but online has been added to the mix in recent years.

The ASA (Advanced Safety Awareness) online training course is an accredited competency-based program that enables employees and contractors to complete a series of online exercises to help measure, focus and shape their attitude towards safety in the workplace.