FSC Accreditation Webinar: Understanding the WHS Accreditation Scheme

The Work Health and Safety (WHS) Accreditation Scheme is an Australian Government initiative that promotes high standards of work health and safety management within the construction industry. The scheme assesses whether a builder has implemented an effective WHS management system capable of supporting safer project delivery.

In this webinar, Justin Bell from the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner (OFSC) explains the purpose of the scheme, its history and its role in improving safety outcomes across the construction sector.

Accreditation is required for builders undertaking eligible Australian Government-funded building projects that meet the scheme's funding thresholds. Accredited builders demonstrate that they have established WHS management systems that meet the requirements of the scheme.

The webinar explores how accreditation applies within the broader construction industry and why it remains an important benchmrk for safety performance and governance.

No. Accreditation is designed to assess how effectively a WHS management system operates in practice, not simply whether policies and procedures exist. Organisations must demonstrate that safety processes are implemented, understood and actively managed across their operations.

Throughout the webinar, the speakers emphasise the importance of moving beyond documentation to demonstrate genuine safety leadership, engagement and operational effectiveness.

The accreditation process includes a review of an organisation's WHS management system and an assessment of how that system is implemented in practice. Organisations must demonstrate that their policies, processes and activities align with the requirements of the scheme.

The webinar provides valuable insights into the accreditation journey, including common considerations for organisations preparing for assessment.

Accreditation is an ongoing commitment rather than a one-time achievement. Accredited organisations are subject to surveillance activities and ongoing requirements designed to ensure standards are maintained and continuously improved.

The panel discusses the importance of maintaining system maturity, operational oversight and continual improvement long after initial accreditation has been achieved.

Auditors assess whether an organisation's WHS management system is operating effectively in practice. This includes reviewing leadership commitment, risk management processes, worker engagement, implementation activities and evidence demonstrating that safety controls are being applied consistently.

In the webinar, the speakers share practical insights into audit expectations and discuss how organisations can better prepare for accreditation and surveillance audits.

Evidence integrity and traceability help organisations demonstrate that safety processes are being followed consistently and that compliance obligations are being met. Accurate, accessible and verifiable records are essential for supporting audits, investigations and ongoing performance monitoring.

A key theme throughout the webinar is how strong evidence management practices can improve audit preparedness and provide greater confidence in safety outcomes.

Digital systems can improve visibility, consistency and oversight by centralising safety information, standardising processes and simplifying access to compliance records. This can help organisations strengthen evidence management and maintain greater control over project-level safety activities.

The webinar explores how digital tools support traceability, audit preparedness and more effective WHS management across construction projects.

Accredited organisations often emphasise the importance of leadership commitment, consistent implementation, strong evidence management and a focus on continuous improvement. Successful accreditation outcomes are typically supported by systems that are actively used rather than simply documented.

During the webinar, industry representatives share practical experiences and lessons learned from achieving and maintaining accreditation in real-world construction environments.

This webinar is relevant for construction business leaders, WHS and HSEQ professionals, compliance managers, accreditation coordinators, project managers and anyone responsible for safety governance or system performance within their organisation.

The discussion provides perspectives from the regulator, contractor and advisory sides of the industry, making it valuable for organisations at any stage of their accreditation journey.