New Avetta Research Reveals False Sense of Safety in Australia’s High-Risk Industries

Despite nine in 10 workers reporting they feel safe, more than half also admit their companies lack comprehensive safety systems

SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Avetta®, the leading provider of supply chain risk management (SCRM) software, today revealed the findings of a new survey that indicates an alarming disconnect between workers’ perceptions of safety and the reality of workplace protections in Australia’s high-risk industries.

Conducted in August 2025 in partnership with PureProfile, the nationwide survey of 518 professionals across manufacturing, construction, mining, utilities, facilities management and other high-risk sectors paints a picture of workplaces where confidence outpaces reality. While nine in 10 (90%) workers say they feel safe most or all the time, the systems designed to protect them are often partial, inconsistent or missing altogether. In fact, 56% of respondents admit their companies only have some risk systems in place. Even more concerning, nearly 10% say no such systems exist at all, while 6% don’t know whether risk systems exist in their organisations.

The report, Making Every Job Safe, Every Day: Why Australian Workplaces Must Have Confidence Beyond Compliance, is being released in conjunction with National Safe Work Month and will formally launch at the Avetta Summit Series event in Sydney, 21-22 October 2025 at the Hilton Sydney Hotel.

“This research shows that while Australian workers may feel safe day-to-day, many workplaces are operating on fragile scaffolding when it comes to genuine protection,” said Luke Boyle, Vice President of Operations, APAC at Avetta. “The perception gap is not just about communication, it’s about governance. When employees believe they’re safe, but organisations fail to adequately mitigate risks, leaders create ticking time bombs: Rare but devastating failures that can cost lives, ruin reputations and expose companies to legal, financial and moral consequences.”

While these findings highlight gaps in employee safety, they also underscore vulnerabilities for contractors, who often perform the most hazardous work yet receive the least protection. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents are only somewhat confident or not confident at all that contractor safety standards are verified before work begins.

“This is a blind spot organisations can no longer afford,” Boyle added. “Contractors are not just filling labour gaps, they’re central to operations. If they’re under-protected, the entire workplace ecosystem is at risk. Ensuring contractors have the same level of safety standards and risk management as permanent staff isn’t just good practice, it’s essential for preventing incidents, protecting lives and safeguarding organisational integrity.”

Addressing workplace safety entails adopting practical technologies as well as strengthening organisational practices. Respondents report the top health and safety technologies they believe would most improve workplace standards are to manage inductions, training and competency (38%); mobile apps and digital credential checks (29%); and platforms specifically designed for managing contractor safety (21%).

Nearly half of respondents also believe their company should take health and safety more to much more seriously. They highlight three key measures that would most effectively improve safety in their workplaces:

• 42% call for more internal training on risk management.
• 29% want stronger investment in tools and resources to identify hazards.
• 27% believe executives and boards should be upskilled on health and safety.

The report also reveals cultural vulnerabilities within high-risk sectors. Nearly two in five (38%) workers admit they have refrained from reporting safety concerns due to fear of repercussions or a belief that nothing would change. At the same time, almost one in five (19%) say they see hazards acknowledged but not acted on daily or weekly.

Such behaviours now carry greater consequences under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025, which places stronger obligations on employers to manage both physical and psychosocial risks, introduces clearer requirements for consultation with workers and expands the use of penalty notices for non-compliance.

Overall, the report highlights the urgent need for organisations in high-risk industries to turn safety perception into action. Investing in robust systems, technology, training and a culture that protects both employees and contractors is essential for safeguarding lives, reputations and operational resilience.

About Avetta

The Avetta SaaS platform helps clients manage supply chain risk and their suppliers become more qualified for jobs. For hiring clients, we offer the world’s largest supply chain risk management network to manage supplier safety, sustainability, worker competency and performance. We perform contractor prequalification and worker competency management across major industries all over the globe, including construction, energy, facilities, high tech, manufacturing, mining and telecom. For more information, visit www.avetta.com/en-au