Course Overview

The Four Pillars of Contractor Safety Management online course has been designed for safety professionals, project managers, contract administrators, principal contractors, and others responsible for engaging and managing contractors. Across five modules, participants will develop the knowledge and skills required to:

• Understand the legal principles of contractor safety management under WHS and OHS legislation
• Apply the principles of control and what is reasonably practicable in contractor safety management
• Improve contractor prequalification processes to better confirm readiness for work
• Strengthen onboarding and induction practices to better manage legal risk and contractor safety
• Focus monitoring activities on confirming the management of critical risks
• Use performance review to close the due diligence loop and support continuous improvement

Through practical legal guidance, operational insights and real-world applications, this course equips professionals with essential tools to improve contractor safety management and support better compliance outcomes.

Modules

• Module 1: Legal Principles of Contractor Safety Management – 60 minutes
  Introduction to the legal foundations of contractor safety management and the Four Pillars framework. Covers the health and safety responsibilities of employers, PCBUs, Principal Contractors and contractors, the principles of control, and what is considered reasonably practicable under WHS and OHS legislation.

   

• Module 2: Prequalification – Why We Do It and How to Do It Better – 45 minutes
  Explores prequalification as the first element of the Four Pillars of Contractor Safety Management. Challenges traditional document-heavy approaches and introduces a more efficient and effective process focused on confirming contractor capability, readiness, and the practical management of risk before work begins.

   

• Module 3: Onboarding – Improving Legal Risk Management and Contractor Safety – 45 minutes
  Focuses on why onboarding is critical from both a legal and operational perspective. Covers how to design inductions that are engaging, effective, and aligned to compliance obligations, while ensuring contractors understand site expectations, critical risks and required controls.

   

• Module 4: Monitoring – Focusing on Critical Risk Management – 45 minutes
  Examines how to make contractor monitoring meaningful, respectful and focused on confirming the management of critical risks. Emphasises consultation, open communication and collaboration so monitoring becomes a practical process for identifying issues and supporting safe work, rather than fault-finding.

   

• Module 5: Performance Review – Closing the Due Diligence Loop – 20 minutes
  Unpacks the often-overlooked process of contractor performance review as the final pillar of effective contractor safety management. Explains why performance review matters, how it supports due diligence, and how it can be used to strengthen future contractor engagement and ongoing safety performance.

Want to do all 5? Purchase the BUNDLE instead!

Who's it For

This course is ideal for professionals who are responsible for one or more of the following:

• Engaging and prequalifying contractors
• Managing contractor onboarding and inductions
• Monitoring contractor safety performance on site
• Reviewing contractor performance and due diligence outcomes
• Overseeing contractor compliance, safety systems and risk management

Course Details

Duration: 5 modules – approx. 1 hour each, self-paced online
Cost: AIHS Members $88 (incl. GST) per module | Non-members $95 (incl. GST) per module
Format: Online learning
CPD Points: 1 point per module

About ContractorSafe

ContractorSafe is a specialist safety and risk management consultancy focused on helping organisations more effectively manage the health and safety of contractors. We combine practical experience, legal insight, and contemporary safety thinking to support businesses that rely on contractors across a wide range of industries.

Our objective is to assist organisations to better understand and discharge their WHS and OHS duties in relation to contractors by providing clear frameworks, training and tools that strengthen due diligence, improve control of critical risks, and support safer, more reliable contractor operations.