COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Safety Leadership in Formwork & Concreting Environments course. This program has been developed to equip you with the leadership skills necessary to foster safer, more compliant, and more resilient worksites. Strong safety leadership is not just about following procedures—it is about influencing positive behaviours, creating a proactive safety culture, and protecting everyone on site from preventable harm.
This course begins by exploring the critical role leadership plays in promoting safe work environments. This section highlights the difference between managing safety through rules and leading safety through actions and behaviours, with a focus on how leadership attitudes directly influence workers' decision-making and site culture.
Understanding legal requirements is essential for any safety leader. This section covers the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, Regulations, and duty of care obligations, with particular focus on the Model Code of Practice for managing the risk of falls and the safety requirements outlined in AS 3610 Formwork for Concrete.
Effective safety leadership is built on a clear understanding of responsibilities. This section defines the legal and moral duties of supervisors and team leaders, emphasising the importance of setting clear expectations, being accountable for safety outcomes, and promoting a safety-first mindset among all workers.
Formwork and concreting activities involve high-risk work. This section examines the specific dangers associated with these environments, including working at heights, the risk of formwork collapse, and the hazards presented by heavy equipment, manual handling, and congested work zones.
Risk management is a daily leadership responsibility. This section guides you through leading risk assessments, involving the team in hazard identification, applying the hierarchy of control measures, and ensuring that risk controls remain effective as site conditions evolve.
Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are critical tools for high-risk construction work. This section explains how to develop clear, detailed SWMS for formwork and concreting activities, how to communicate them effectively during pre-start meetings, and how to ensure that workers understand and follow the documented procedures.
Planning is key to preventing incidents. This section covers how to sequence work to minimise exposure to risks, how to plan for safe formwork erection and removal, and how to ensure that only competent workers are allocated to complex or high-risk tasks.
Leadership in safety requires active supervision. This section provides practical guidance on monitoring day-to-day activities, intervening early to correct unsafe practices, and conducting regular walk-through inspections to maintain compliance and foster continuous improvement.
Good communication is the foundation of effective safety leadership. This section focuses on giving clear, respectful instructions, actively listening to worker feedback, and using daily toolbox talks to reinforce vital safety messages in an accessible and engaging manner.
Leading by example is non-negotiable for safety leaders. This section highlights the importance of always demonstrating correct PPE use, tool handling, and procedural compliance, and showing visible respect for all site safety systems and protocols.
New and inexperienced workers require additional support to work safely. This section outlines how to deliver comprehensive safety inductions, mentor apprentices or new workers, and monitor ongoing competence to ensure no one is placed in unsafe situations due to lack of experience.
Preparation for emergencies is a critical aspect of safety leadership. This section covers the development and review of emergency response plans, training workers in assigned roles, and demonstrating leadership during evacuations, rescues, and first aid responses.
Proactive leaders conduct regular observations, audits, and inspections. This section explains how to plan and carry out effective safety audits, record and act on findings, and use inspection processes as an opportunity to engage with workers and drive continuous improvement.
Coaching is a powerful tool for improving safety behaviours. This section shows how to provide immediate, constructive feedback, how to positively reinforce safe behaviours, and how to build a learning culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth and safer practice.
Environmental factors like fatigue and weather can create hidden dangers. This section discusses planning work schedules to prevent fatigue, monitoring and adjusting work during extreme weather, and controlling environmental impacts related to concrete works, such as runoff and chemical spills.
Conflict over safety priorities must be managed carefully. This section provides strategies for addressing disagreements professionally, balancing productivity with worker wellbeing, and escalating unresolved safety issues to management or WHS officers as appropriate.
Learning from incidents is essential for continual safety improvement. This section covers leading incident investigations, conducting thorough root cause analyses, communicating lessons learned across teams, and updating SWMS, procedures, and training materials to reflect these lessons.
Finally, building a strong, ongoing safety culture is the hallmark of outstanding safety leadership. This section encourages proactive hazard and near-miss reporting, recognising and rewarding safety leadership behaviours among team members, and committing to a philosophy of continual improvement in site safety standards.
By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge, strategies, and leadership tools needed to create safer worksites, influence positive behaviours, and drive a strong safety culture within formwork and concreting 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 Formwork and Concreting
- The importance of leadership in promoting safe work environments
- Differences between safety management and safety leadership
- How safety leadership influences worker behaviour and site culture
2. WHS Legislation and Standards for Formwork and Concreting
- Overview of WHS Act, Regulations, and Duty of Care
- Safe Work Australia's Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
- AS 3610 Formwork for Concrete and its safety requirements
3. Responsibilities of Safety Leaders on Site
- Legal and moral duties of supervisors and leading hands
- Setting clear expectations for safe behaviours
- Accountability for safety planning and outcomes
4. Identifying High-Risk Activities in Formwork and Concreting
- Working at heights, suspended pours, and formwork collapse risks
- Managing plant and equipment hazards
- Recognising manual handling and trip hazards
5. Leading Risk Assessments and Control Implementation
- Involving teams in hazard identification
- Applying the hierarchy of control measures effectively
- Reviewing and updating risk assessments as conditions change
6. Developing and Communicating Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)
- Creating detailed SWMS for formwork and concreting activities
- Communicating SWMS content to workers during pre-start meetings
- Ensuring compliance and understanding through active engagement
7. Planning for Safe Work Activities
- Sequencing work to minimise risk exposures
- Allowing adequate time for safe setup and takedown of formwork systems
- Allocating competent workers to high-risk tasks
8. Supervising Worksite Safety Compliance
- Monitoring daily operations to ensure adherence to procedures
- Intervening immediately to correct unsafe practices
- Conducting regular walk-through inspections
9. Effective Communication as a Safety Leader
- Giving clear, respectful instructions and directions
- Actively listening to worker concerns and feedback
- Using toolbox talks to reinforce critical safety messages
10. Leading by Example in Safe Work Practices
- Demonstrating correct use of PPE, tools, and equipment
- Complying with SWMS, permits, and safety protocols at all times
- Showing respect for site rules and safety systems
11. Managing and Supervising New and Inexperienced Workers
- Providing thorough safety inductions
- Assigning mentors or experienced workers for supervision
- Monitoring competence and addressing training gaps
12. Emergency Preparedness and Incident Response Leadership
- Developing and reviewing emergency response plans
- Assigning and training workers in emergency roles
- Leading the team during evacuations, rescues, or first aid scenarios
13. Conducting Safety Observations, Audits, and Inspections
- Planning formal and informal safety audits
- Recording observations and following up on corrective actions
- Using audits as opportunities for coaching, not just compliance
14. Coaching Workers to Improve Safety Behaviour
- Providing immediate, constructive feedback on unsafe or safe behaviour
- Recognising improvements and reinforcing positive actions
- Building a learning culture where mistakes lead to improvement
15. Managing Fatigue, Weather, and Environmental Hazards
- Planning work schedules to prevent overwork and fatigue-related incidents
- Monitoring heat, rain, wind, and adjusting work plans
- Preventing environmental damage from concreting activities
16. Conflict Resolution in Safety Leadership
- Addressing disputes over safety concerns calmly and professionally
- Balancing productivity demands with safety priorities
- Seeking support from management or WHS personnel if escalation is required
17. Reviewing Incidents and Promoting Lessons Learned
- Leading incident investigations and root cause analysis
- Ensuring findings are communicated and shared across teams
- Updating SWMS, procedures, and training based on lessons learned
18. Building a Strong, Ongoing Safety Culture
- Encouraging proactive reporting of hazards, near misses, and ideas
- Recognising safety champions and promoting teamwork
- Committing to continual improvement in site safety standards
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”.