Facilities management in Australia is grappling with significant safety challenges, as highlighted in a new report released today. The Australian Workplace Safety Market Research Report, commissioned by Rapid Global and conducted by Research Without Barriers, reveals that outdated paper-based systems and inadequate incident reporting are leaving workers exposed to unnecessary risks.
The survey, which included over 1,000 safety managers, workers, and contractors from high-risk industries, shows that facilities management is particularly reliant on manual processes. A concerning 26 percent of managers still depend on paper for safety activities. Furthermore, 49 percent reported that manual identity and compliance checks at site entry are both slow and prone to errors. Alarmingly, more than half of the workers surveyed—52 percent—believe they can gain access to sites even if they have incomplete or expired training.
Another critical issue lies in incident reporting. While workers are expected to identify hazards, confidence in the efficacy of these reports is low. Only 17 percent of employees trust that all reported incidents result in corrective action. Additionally, 66 percent feel that the reporting procedure could be simplified. The situation is particularly concerning given that 45 percent of workers feel managers rely heavily on them to identify hazards and incidents.
Concerns extend to the role of artificial intelligence in this sector. Nearly half of facility management workers—47 percent—fear that AI could replace senior management roles, while 31 percent worry about job security. This anxiety may hinder the use of tools designed to enhance safety and efficiency, underscoring the need for clear communication from leadership about AI as a supportive resource rather than a threat.
Professor Dr Andrew Sharman, a leading authority on safety culture and CEO of the International Institute of Leadership & Safety Culture, commented on the findings, stating, “Safety is often well documented, yet not consistently felt by people on the ground. Bridging the gap between policy and practice is less about systems alone and much more about leadership. Trust is the critical differentiator.”
Ezequiel Gonzalez, Head of Revenue at Rapid Global, emphasized that the findings reveal a shift in focus from intent to complexity regarding safety risks. “Australia has made significant progress in workplace safety, yet complacency remains. Complex, high-risk environments require more than simply checking boxes,” he said. According to Gonzalez, technology should enhance human judgment rather than replace it. When systems become easier to use and data more actionable, safety outcomes improve.
The research indicates that organizations that are most likely to achieve better safety outcomes are not those that merely modernize with the latest tools, but those that strive to reduce friction, automate enforcement, and promote safe behavior as the easiest option in daily operations.
Rebuilding trust within the industry is now essential. The findings suggest that technology can bridge many of the existing gaps, but only if it is framed as a support for workers rather than a threat. When enforcement becomes automatic rather than discretionary, the potential for safer work environments increases significantly.
For those interested in exploring the full report, it can be accessed at https://rapidglobal.com/lp/au-market-research/.
Rapid Global is an Australian AI-powered platform focused on transforming workplace safety and compliance, serving more than 7 million users worldwide. The company combines over two decades of industry experience to deliver a smarter, more proactive approach to managing safety, offering solutions ranging from contractor pre-qualification and online inductions to visitor management and incident reporting. For more information, visit https://rapidglobal.com/.
