The Client's Role in Improving Workplace Health and Safety

Contemporary models of accident causation recognize the importance of organizational issues and management actions in contributing to workplace accidents This chapter discusses ways in which clients can engage in work health and safety (WHS) in the projects they procure. As the initiators of projects and purchasers of services, clients can play an important role in promoting and enabling WHS performance on construction projects. The chapter describes a set of guidelines developed to help Australian Government agencies manage WHS in the projects they procure. In making significant policy changes, governments can have a substantial influence on the way private sector organizations practice WHS. The chapter explains a research project that explored the impact of the project commercial framework on WHS in construction projects. The Model Client Framework is one initiative that takes a lifecycle approach to client engagement in WHS.