SafeWork NSW Strengthens Safety Engagement with CALD Construction Workers

SafeWork NSW has expanded its outreach to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in the construction sector, partnering with the Chinese Building Association NSW to deliver a targeted toolbox talk on work health and safety (WHS) in North Ryde in June.

The session formed part of a broader strategy to ensure construction workers from diverse backgrounds can hear directly from the regulator, better understand their legal obligations, and implement robust WHS management systems, safe work method statements (SWMS) and site policies on their projects.

Construction workers of Chinese heritage now represent one of the fastest growing groups in the industry, with increasing numbers of workers from Indian and Middle Eastern backgrounds also entering the sector. In response, SafeWork NSW is adapting its communication and engagement methods to reflect the changing demographics of the workforce.

SafeWork NSW’s CALD engagement program includes regular builders’ breakfasts, toolbox talks and workshops open to all trades, site supervisors, principal contractors and other duty holders. These activities are often delivered in partnership with industry associations, unions and community groups to ensure safety messages are practical, accessible and culturally appropriate.

To further support CALD workers, key safety guidance on the SafeWork NSW website is being provided in HTML format where possible. This allows workers and businesses to use in-browser translation tools to access critical safety information in their preferred language, supporting better understanding of WHS duties, consultation requirements and risk controls.

The construction industry remains one of the highest-risk sectors in NSW, with serious incidents commonly linked to falls from height and interactions with mobile plant. Over the past 12 months, more than 2,229 construction-related incidents, including 13 fatalities, were reported to SafeWork NSW.

Many of these incidents are associated with inadequate job planning, poor site supervision and the failure to implement well-known, low-cost control measures such as edge protection, void covers, platform ladders and clear SWMS for high-risk construction work. Embedding these controls into formal WHS management systems and site-specific safety policies can significantly reduce the likelihood of serious harm.

The recent North Ryde toolbox talk, run in partnership with the Chinese Building Association NSW, was attended by construction workers and business operators seeking clearer guidance on compliance and practical steps to improve safety performance on their sites.

SafeWork NSW also participated in a Builders Workshop in North Western Sydney on 25 February 2026, alongside Building Commission NSW. This event focused on South East Asian and Middle Eastern builders and stakeholders, highlighting safety, regulatory compliance and the importance of systematic WHS planning in construction projects.

These initiatives underline SafeWork NSW’s commitment to working closely with CALD construction communities so that safety information is delivered in a way that is relevant, understandable and more likely to be applied on site. Businesses are encouraged to integrate the regulator’s guidance into their internal WHS procedures and formal documentation, such as policies, procedures and SWMS. For organisations seeking structured documentation, commercially developed WHS management systems and construction SWMS templates are available from providers such as BlueSafe and BlueSafe SWMS.

Eligible small businesses that attend these SafeWork NSW events may apply for the $1,000 SafeWork NSW Small Business Rebate. The rebate can be used to purchase safety improvements including platform ladders, edge protection systems and other risk control measures that align with their WHS plans and SWMS.

SafeWork NSW continues to promote information on managing work at heights, safe use of mobile plant and psychosocial risk management in construction through its website. This material supports duty holders to identify hazards, conduct risk assessments, implement controls and regularly review the effectiveness of their WHS arrangements.

SafeWork NSW has reaffirmed that construction remains one of the State’s highest risk industries, with too many workers still being seriously injured or killed on sites each year. The regulator has emphasised that every worker, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, has the right to a safe workplace and to return home unharmed at the end of the day.

SafeWork NSW considers community-based events, toolbox talks and builders’ workshops as critical mechanisms for turning this principle into practice on every worksite, by ensuring safety messages are clearly communicated, understood and embedded into everyday work practices.