At the recent FIA quarterly ToolBox event we heard from Laurence Richey, Director, Construction and Asbestos Services, SafeWork NSW on the latest regarding the revised Formwork Code of Practice. 

Eagerly awaiting an update on the code, members who had contributed to the revised code last year, including FIA Board members, gathered at the new ToolBox event format.

Laurence advised, "Following consultation with other WHS regulators in 2018, a decision was made not to proceed with a model national code of practice for Formwork."

"However, Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, the Hon Kevin Anderson, has approved updating the current NSW Formwork Code of Practice".

Laurence continued, "It is expected that a draft will be available for final industry consultation in August. This will include general consultation via the “Have your say” website and targeted consultation through bodies such as the FIA. Once consultation has been finalised and code is signed off by the Minister then an official launch date will be set."

The FIA will be meeting with SW NSW in the coming weeks to understand in more detail the process and next steps and will report back to you in due course. Members will be encouraged to again pass comment on the revised code, which has been updated following the consultation process last year.

If you would like to discuss this in more detail, please contact the FIA General Manager, Michael Sugg, via email.