Construction Knows What Good Safety Looks Like: Execution Is the Problem
Rapid Global
- Construction industry shows strongest demand for system-driven safety, with 72% of managers supporting linked induction data for site access
- Despite strong safety documentation, there's a gap in on-site implementation, with 43% of workers finding safety software difficult to use
- 63% of construction managers report using AI features in safety systems, though 50% admit to using unofficial AI tools outside company systems
- Research indicates successful safety outcomes depend more on reducing friction and automating enforcement than implementing numerous tools
- Trust remains a critical factor in bridging the gap between safety policy and practice, particularly in complex work environments
In no other Australian industry are the limits of manual safety management more exposed than in building and construction. Amid complex work sites, high contractor turnover, and tightening regulatory scrutiny, new research shows safety outcomes now depend less on leadership intent and more on whether systems can enforce compliance automatically and consistently at scale.
The Australian Workplace Safety Market Research Report, commissioned by Rapid Global and conducted by Research Without Barriers, surveyed more than 1,000 Australian safety managers, workers and contractors across high-risk industries, including construction. The report's findings indicate a crucial turning point for the sector: while safety documentation is strong, on-site experiences often differ.
Construction stands out as the industry with the strongest appetite for system-driven safety. 72 per cent of managers say linking induction data directly to site access makes workplaces safer, and 68 per cent prioritise strong integration between safety tools, the highest of any sector. This reflects the operational realities of complex sites, high contractor turnover, and regulatory scrutiny.
Ambition at the leadership level is clear, but execution remains uneven. 43 per cent of construction workers describe the safety software they use as clunky or confusing, and only 36 per cent say safety training is always clear and practical. As organisations scale up, usability issues widen the gap between intent and experience.
Construction is also leading AI adoption, with 63 per cent of managers saying their safety systems already include AI features. However, 50 per cent admit they are using AI tools outside the official company system, highlighting governance and adoption challenges as technology moves faster than workforce trust and capability.
Professor Dr Andrew Sharman, a global authority on safety culture and CEO of the International Institute of Leadership & Safety Culture, says the findings reflect a familiar pattern seen repeatedly across global workplaces. “Safety is often well documented, yet not consistently felt by people on the ground,” he says. “Bridging the gap between policy and practice is less about systems alone and much more about leadership. Trust is the critical differentiator.”
The findings, according to Ezequiel Gonzalez, Head of Revenue at Rapid Global, demonstrate that complexity, rather than intent, increasingly shapes safety risk. "Australia has made significant progress in workplace safety, yet complacency remains," he asserts. "Complex, high-risk environments require more than simply checking boxes. " Technology should not replace human judgement but make it sharper. When systems are easier to use and data is easier to act on, safer outcomes follow.”
According to the research, the organisations most likely to improve safety outcomes are not those modernising with the most tools but those reducing friction, automating enforcement, and making safe behaviour the easiest option for day-to-day reality on site.
The research makes clear that construction is not short on innovation or ambition. The challenge now is execution: bringing workers along, reducing software friction, and ensuring that automation and AI reinforce trust on site rather than operate in parallel to it.
To access the report, please visit: https://rapidglobal.com/lp/au-market-research/
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About Rapid Global
Rapid Global is an Australian AI-powered platform transforming workplace safety and compliance, with more than 7m users worldwide. Trusted by leading global companies, Rapid brings together more than 20 years of industry experience to deliver a smarter, more proactive approach to managing safety.
From contractor pre-qualification and online inductions to visitor management, site access control,
audits, AI-enabled camera monitoring, and incident reporting, Rapid gives organisations one connected platform to keep people safe and workplaces compliant. https://rapidglobal.com/
Contact details:
Louise Nealon, PR With Purpose, [email protected], 0403 569177
