COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Safety Leadership in Civil Construction Operations course. This training is designed to equip you with the leadership capabilities, regulatory knowledge, and site-based techniques required to foster a strong and proactive safety culture across high-risk civil construction environments.

Effective safety leadership goes beyond compliance—it influences team behaviour, sets the tone for worksite expectations, and plays a critical role in preventing incidents, protecting workers, and delivering projects safely.

This course begins by defining safety leadership in the civil construction context. Participants will distinguish between passive compliance and active leadership, exploring the behaviours, decisions, and responsibilities expected of supervisors, forepersons, and other frontline leaders. The emphasis is placed on the role of leadership in influencing safety culture, upholding standards, and maintaining discipline on diverse and dynamic civil worksites.

Legal responsibilities are fundamental to understanding the scope of safety leadership. This section outlines the duties of Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs), site supervisors, and workers under the WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulations 2017. Participants will examine legal accountability in the event of incidents, breaches, or failures to manage known risks.

A strong safety culture is driven from the top. This section explains the features of high-performing WHS cultures, highlighting how leadership behaviours, team engagement, and worksite norms contribute to consistent risk control. Participants will learn how to embed safety into the language, priorities, and routines of civil construction teams.

Leading by example is a core leadership function. This section addresses the importance of consistently modelling safe behaviour—such as correct PPE use, adherence to procedures, and visible engagement with workers. The impact of inconsistency and passive observation on team attitudes is also explored.

Planning tasks with safety in mind is a daily responsibility. Participants will learn how to incorporate safety into work sequencing, review Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), permits, and pre-start documentation, and ensure that hazard identification is conducted collaboratively with crew members.

Pre-starts and toolbox talks are key opportunities for influence. This section covers how to structure briefings, communicate risks effectively, and foster participation from all workers. Participants will use communication tools such as plans, signage, and checklists to reinforce understanding and clarity.

Setting clear safety expectations is essential. This section explores how to communicate standards for risk control, enforce behavioural expectations respectfully, and address communication barriers such as low literacy or language differences—ensuring every team member is aligned with site protocols.

Supervising high-risk activities requires vigilance and preparation. This section focuses on operations such as excavation, plant movement, confined space entry, trenching, and traffic management. Participants will learn how to assess and verify control measures, implement exclusion zones, and manage interactions between teams and machinery.

Plant and equipment usage is a critical area of safety leadership. Participants will review the importance of pre-start checks, observe operator behaviour, monitor interactions between mobile plant and personnel, and manage blind spots, spotters, and safety zones.

Effective hazard identification must be leader-driven. This section outlines how to encourage hazard reporting, conduct ongoing reviews of risk assessments, and ensure controls are in place, suitable, and followed up with regular inspections and verifications.

Promoting positive behaviour reinforces standards. Participants will learn how to recognise safe actions, address poor practices constructively, and encourage team-wide ownership of WHS outcomes—building accountability into every layer of the workforce.

Supporting mental health is part of leadership responsibility. This section covers recognising signs of psychological strain, fatigue, or distress, and promoting support services such as MATES in Construction and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Participants will consider how to build psychologically safe and inclusive civil construction environments.

Incident response requires calm and capable leadership. Participants will be trained in leading the immediate response to incidents or near misses, coordinating with emergency services, and supporting affected individuals in a professional and compassionate manner.

Investigating incidents offers opportunities for improvement. This section provides guidance on participating in root cause analysis, identifying systemic issues, and sharing learnings with teams to prevent recurrence. Fact-based investigation and positive communication are key principles.

Subcontractor safety performance must be actively managed. This section explores how to ensure subcontractors meet WHS expectations, are properly inducted, and remain compliant throughout their scope of work. Performance monitoring and management of interface risks are also addressed.

Safety walks and inspections provide visibility and assurance. Participants will learn how to plan structured site checks, involve team members in walkthroughs, document observations, and follow through with actions to close identified gaps and reinforce accountability.

Team engagement is essential for sustainable WHS success. This section covers how to involve crews in planning, gather feedback on procedures, and implement team-driven safety campaigns or initiatives. Leadership becomes a shared responsibility when crews are empowered to contribute.

Sustaining safety leadership requires ongoing commitment. This section supports participants in reviewing their own leadership strategies, mentoring new leaders, and integrating continuous improvement into everyday practice—ensuring that safety remains an enduring priority in every project phase.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the leadership behaviours, legal awareness, and practical tools necessary to lead safety with confidence, credibility, and consistency across civil construction operations.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Safety Leadership in Civil Construction

• Defining safety leadership in high-risk civil environments
• The distinction between safety compliance and proactive leadership
• Key responsibilities of frontline leaders and supervisors

2. Legal Duties and WHS Responsibilities

• Understanding the WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulations 2017
• Duties of PCBUs, supervisors, and workers on civil sites
• Legal accountability for incidents and risk failures

3. Building a Positive Safety Culture Onsite

• Characteristics of high-performing safety cultures
• The influence of leadership on team attitudes and behaviours
• Embedding safety into the values and norms of the worksite

4. Leading by Example in Civil Construction Environments

• Modelling safe work behaviours under all conditions
• Wearing PPE consistently and enforcing standards without exception
• Displaying commitment through visibility and engagement

5. Planning Work with a Safety Focus

• Integrating safety considerations into daily task planning
• Reviewing Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and permits
• Ensuring team involvement in hazard identification before work begins

6. Conducting Effective Pre-Start and Toolbox Talks

• Structuring safety briefings to engage all crew members
• Addressing high-risk activities and emerging site hazards
• Using communication tools effectively

7. Communicating Safety Expectations and Standards

• Setting clear expectations for risk control and compliance
• Using respectful, assertive communication during interventions
• Managing language barriers and low literacy where applicable

8. Identifying and Controlling High-Risk Activities

• Supervising operations involving plant movement, excavation, and working near traffic
• Reviewing control measures for confined spaces, overhead services, and trenching
• Implementing exclusion zones and access controls

9. Supervising Use of Plant and Equipment Safely

• Verifying pre-start checks and safe operation of machinery
• Monitoring interaction between mobile plant and ground workers
• Managing blind spots, spotters, and separation protocols

10. Hazard Identification and Risk Management Leadership

• Encouraging workers to report hazards early and often
• Reviewing risk assessments and implementing appropriate controls
• Following through on hazard rectification and control reviews

11. Promoting Safe Behaviour and Accountability

• Recognising team members who consistently act safely
• Addressing unsafe acts promptly and constructively
• Encouraging ownership of safety at all levels

12. Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing Onsite

• Recognising signs of fatigue, stress, or emotional distress
• Promoting support services such as EAP or MATES in Construction
• Creating a psychologically safe work environment

13. Responding to Incidents and Emergencies

• Leading the initial response to incidents, near misses, or injuries
• Coordinating emergency services and internal response plans
• Supporting injured or affected workers with compassion and professionalism

14. Investigating Incidents and Learning from Events

• Participating in root cause analysis and fact-based investigation
• Identifying systemic or behavioural causes
• Implementing improvements and sharing lessons across teams

15. Leading Contractor and Subcontractor Safety Performance

• Ensuring subcontractors meet site safety requirements and are inducted
• Monitoring compliance and coordinating work interface risks
• Reviewing performance and addressing non-conformances

16. Conducting Safety Walks and Inspections

• Planning structured site observations to check risk controls
• Involving team members in walkthroughs and audits
• Documenting findings and following up on corrective actions

17. Building Team Engagement in WHS

• Involving crews in risk assessments and safety planning
• Seeking feedback and using it to improve procedures
• Running safety initiatives or campaigns that encourage participation

18. Sustaining Safety Leadership Over Time

• Reviewing and refining leadership strategies regularly
• Mentoring upcoming leaders and promoting development
• Embedding continuous improvement into daily safety practices

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.