Workers safety should always be paramount whether on a work site big or small. 

As reported in the media, the Victorian Government has moved to improve security and tackle dangerous work practices on taxpayer-funded building sites.

Amendments will be enacted in mid-2014 to require construction companies to implement comprehensive drug and alcohol screening measures. This will both improve safety of construction workers and ensure companies are eligible to tender for State Government construction contracts.

Changes to the Implementation Guidelines to the Victorian Code of Practice for the Building and Construction Industry will also require companies to demonstrate best practice security measures such as CCTV monitoring, biometric scanning and smartcard technology.

“Fraud and theft on Victorian Government construction sites has a direct impact on construction costs, which are ultimately borne by the taxpayer,” said Premier Denis Napthine.

“The government will take whatever steps are needed to put a stop to this unfair impost.”

Master Builders has previously called for support for organisations that have sought to institute drug and alcohol testing onto their commercial building sites, particularly after the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission ruled that the EBA does not preclude drug testing. The CFMEU, dissatisfied with the outcomes of the Fair Work decision have hindered and obstructed organisations from taking this action. The government have now taken action to counter the actions of the CFMEU.

CFMEU State Secretary, John Setka, says there is insufficient evidence pointing to issues around drug taking on construction sites.

This, however, contradicts results of research undertaken by the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre, which found that 11.1 per cent of surveyed construction workers had used cannabis within 24 hours of its 2012 survey and 7.2 per cent within the previous week.

The same research also found that 4.6 per cent of construction sector workers had used ecstasy or meth/amphetamine type substances in the 24 hours before the survey and 9.2 per cent in the previous week.

“It’s time for the CFMEU to lift its head from the sand when it comes to drug and alcohol use in our sector,” said Master Builders’ Chief Executive Officer, Radley de Silva.

“If it really cares about workplace safety, the union will support this testing.”

Master Builders says the construction industry isn’t being singled out by this move, pointing to drug and alcohol testing that applies to motorists, transport workers, aviation and civil construction sectors. Drug testing has been rolled out on Thiess’ M80 Ring Road upgrade project in Melbourne, despite the objections of the CFMEU.