The Housing Industry Association has been announced as the winner of the 2020 SafeWork NSW Awards for “outstanding work health and safety support to members in the changed working environment due to COVID-19”.
The 2020 SafeWork NSW Awards recognise excellence and innovation in work, health and safety response to COVID-19, across a broad range of industries.
“This year has presented a mammoth challenge to which HIA has risen to and faced head on, in outstanding style,” HIA Executive Director NSW, David Bare said
“Our Making Space On Site initiative was launched as soon as the crisis started unfolding in March,” he continued.
“The initiative allowed our members, the industry more broadly and home building clients to stay up to date with the rapidly changing Government requirements.
“Importantly, the initiative also helped workers and the community stay safe on site, allowing home building work to continue throughout the pandemic.
“The speed and efficiency that this initiative was rolled out in unprecedented circumstance is testiment to HIA’s professionalism and commitment to it members and their customers.”
HIA introduced QR codes that helped members carry out site inductions, keep track of site visits, and simplify contract tracing.
They also launched eight industry guidelines in five languages, all freely available via HIA’s website.
“HIA has shown it is capable of being agile and responsive in even the most unprecedented circumstance and has used its vast resources of experienced staff to not only keep the industry open, but to assist our industry avoid the risk from COVID-19,” Mr Bare explained.
“While HIA has won this award, the big winner has been our members – the thousands of home builders and trade contractors working hard to remain safe in their business operations on site and who continue to deliver new homes and renovations for their customers.
“It is an honour to receive this award and HIA will continue to build on this achievment in these uncertain times,” concluded Mr Bare.
