What is FSC accreditation in Australia?

FSC accreditation refers to accreditation under the Australian Government's Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) scheme. It applies to contractors seeking to undertake certain Commonwealth-funded building work and requires them to demonstrate compliant, implemented work health and safety (WHS) systems. Accreditation involves both a systems audit and onsite audits to confirm practical implementation.

Who needs FSC accreditation?

Contractors must hold FSC accreditation to be eligible to tender for certain Australian Government-funded building projects where accreditation is mandated under the Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme. The specific thresholds and project types are defined by the Federal Safety Commissioner.

What do FSC audits assess?

FSC audits assess both documented WHS systems and their implementation in practice. Auditors typically review corporate WHS governance, project risk management, SWMS and controls, worker competency verification, incident investigations and corrective actions, emergency preparedness evidence, consultation records, and plant/permit/inspection documentation. The focus is on consistency, traceability, and evidence of active system use.

How do contractors maintain FSC accreditation after approval?

Maintaining accreditation requires ongoing compliance with scheme requirements. Accredited contractors are subject to periodic surveillance audits and must demonstrate that their WHS systems remain current, implemented, and aligned with FSC expectations across their projects. This typically involves regular review of documentation, competency tracking, corrective action management, and consistent evidence collection.

Are digital systems required for FSC accreditation?

Digital systems are not a formal requirement of the FSC scheme. However, contractors must be able to provide current, traceable, and consistent evidence during audits. Many organisations use digital safety platforms to centralise documentation, manage version control, track competencies, and streamline evidence retrieval.

Your Guide to Achieving & Maintaining FSC Accreditation

Now available on demand

Missed the live session? The full recording is now available on demand.

Hear from the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner, GRC Buxton and FEFO Consulting on achieving and maintaining FSC accreditation.

Watch On Demand

Meet the panel

Justin Bell

Director

Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner

The OFSC supports the Federal Safety Commissioner in the administration of the WHS Accreditation Scheme.

Mick May

HSEQ Manager

GRC Buxton

The construction company who's been through it. Mick led GRC Buxton's accreditation in 2025.

Mark Wright

Managing Director

FEFO Consulting

The consultant's view. Mark partners with companies to get their application over the line.

Note: The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner (OFSC) is participating in this webinar in its role as the Australian Government agency responsible for administering the Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme. OFSC’s participation does not constitute an endorsement of HammerTech, or of any specific products, services, consultants or technology platforms. The views expressed by other presenters are their own, and the OFSC does not verify or endorse the accuracy of their content.

Whether you’re already accredited or just starting your journey, this session will grow your understanding of the Scheme and how it operates.

In this session you'll learn about:

The Scheme and how the OFSC regulates safety in practice
How the OFSC works with industry
Mark and Mick's experiences with accreditation, in a chat facilitated by HammerTech

Now available on demand - watch at your own pace, anytime.

Your Guide to Achieving & Maintaining FSC Accreditation

Now available on demand

Meet the panel

Watch the recording

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