Australia work readiness checks lag in high-risk sectors

Avetta has published research highlighting a gap in real-time work readiness verification across Australia's high-risk industries. The study found that only 15% of organisations can quickly confirm in real time that a worker is ready to work.

The survey of more than 500 professionals spanned manufacturing, construction, resources, data centres, facilities management and other high-risk sectors. It found that 42% of respondents said workers often or sometimes begin work before all required safety checks or credentials have been fully verified.

The findings point to broader weaknesses in worksite visibility and coordination. Nearly six in 10 respondents, or 59%, said they had limited, partial or no real-time visibility into who was on site, their role or their risk profile.

That lack of oversight appears alongside pressure on day-to-day decision-making. Seven in 10 respondents said safety or compliance decisions are made under time constraints at least sometimes, suggesting many organisations are balancing operational pressure against verification processes.

Visibility gaps

The research suggests many businesses still rely on disconnected systems and manual processes to manage workforce readiness and supply chain risk. This can make it harder to validate worker qualifications, identify emerging risks and maintain an accurate picture of site conditions.

Responses also showed a disconnect between formal systems and conditions on the ground. Some 41% said there is a gap between safety systems and on-site realities, while 25% reported that risks are often or very often seen as under control even though they are not fully resolved.

Unresolved hazards were another recurring issue. About 37% of respondents said they notice health and safety risks in their workplace that have been acknowledged by management but remain unaddressed at least once a week. A further 11% see such situations daily and 7% multiple times per day.

Participants gave several reasons hazards go unaddressed. Risks that fall outside formal compliance requirements were cited by 17% of respondents, followed by skills gaps at 12% and lack of time at 11%.

Team alignment

The study also highlighted weak alignment between internal functions that share responsibility for supply chain risk. Some 72% of respondents said their safety, procurement and operations teams were only moderately aligned, slightly aligned or not aligned at all.

That fragmentation matters in sectors where contractor management, worker credentials and site access often sit across multiple departments. Without shared processes and timely data, organisations can struggle to confirm whether workers have met all requirements before work starts.

Lynda Richards, APAC Principal for HSE at Avetta, said the issue extends beyond individual compliance tasks.

"As organisations face increasing workforce complexity and resource pressures, the ability to manage risk as a system, rather than a collection of standalone initiatives, becomes a critical capability," Richards said.

"Health, safety, sustainability and psychosocial wellbeing are interconnected elements of a single organisational ecosystem. Organisations that thrive will be those that understand, measure and continuously challenge the relationships between these elements, turning complexity into resilience, performance and sustainable value," she said.

AI hesitation

The survey found caution around the use of artificial intelligence in workforce and supplier decision-making. About 41% of respondents said they do not trust AI to make critical workforce decisions.

At the same time, 73% said their organisations were either not ready or only in the early stages of scaling AI across the workforce. The figures suggest that even as companies face gaps in verification and visibility, many remain reluctant to rely on automated tools in higher-risk settings.

Avetta said the findings show compliance alone does not provide a full picture of work readiness. The data also points to shortcomings in accountability, cross-functional coordination and the practical monitoring of emerging risk.

Luke Boyle, Vice President of Operations, APAC at Avetta, said the problem becomes more acute when companies do not have a live view of workforce status on site.

"The findings point to a broader readiness challenge across high-risk industries," Boyle said.

"When organisations lack visibility into who is on-site, whether workers are fully qualified and what risks are emerging in real time, it becomes harder to respond quickly and confidently. Closing that gap requires connected systems, stronger cross-functional alignment and a shared commitment to work readiness. When organisations can verify that the right people are qualified, compliant and prepared before work begins, they can reduce uncertainty, respond with confidence and keep work moving safely," he said.