Recent amendments to the Building Code 2013, with the intent to improve construction site work health and safety, have now commenced following last month’s Senate approval.

The new fitness for work amendments to the code requires head contractors on 150 federally funded construction projects under the Building Code 2013 to maintain a code compliant drug and alcohol policy that stipulates how drugs and alcohol are to be monitored in the workplace.

The changes ensure that the management of drugs and alcohol in the workplace are kept at the forefront and a zero tolerance policy for certain drugs and alcohol.

Suresh Manickam, the CEO of the National Electrical and Communications Association said that “safety is critical to building and construction activities to ensure that contractors and their employees are not put at unnecessary risk.”

“The health and safety of electrical contractors, electricians and members of the general public should never be compromised.”

Fair Work Building and Construction is responsible for monitoring compliance of the new legislation, including a three stage role for the auditing of Drug and Alcohol testing requirements.

A facts sheet about the new amendments to the Building Code for Drug and Alcohol testing can be found here.

Further information about the changes is available through NECA’s State chapters or by calling the FWBC hotline on 1800 003 338.  

-ENDS-

Media enquiries and interviews

Barry Jackson – National Marketing and Communications

E barry.jackson@neca.asn.au

D 02 9962 6904

M 0457 767 328

Notes for editors

1. NECA is the peak industry body representing the interests of electrical and communications contractors Australia-wide.
2. NECA is run by electrical contractors, for electrical contractors.
3. We have 5,000 contracting companies as members – and they in turn employ over 50,000 people Australia-wide.
4. NECA employs almost 350 people across its seven chapters (Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia).
5. The chapters provide NECA members with a range of services including: Industrial Relations, Health & Safety, Legal, Technical, Training, business-support services, product discounts and advocacy representation in Canberra with Government, Industry bodies and Training bodies.
6. NECA wholly-owns its Legal firm, Group Training and the NECA Colleges (in WA) and EcoSmart Electricians – and has joint ventures with a superannuation company (NSW) and one of the national cabling registrars (ACRS).
7. NECA also employ around 2,000 apprentice electricians and provides training to a further 2,000.
8. For further information go to www.neca.asn.au.