Key Facts:
- 26% of facility managers still use paper-based safety processes, while 49% rely on manual ID checks, leading to compliance gaps and security risks
- Only 17% of workers believe all reported incidents result in corrective action, with 66% stating incident reporting procedures need simplification
- 47% of facility management workers fear AI will replace senior roles, while 31% worry about their own job security
- Trust is identified as a critical factor in bridging the gap between safety policy and practical implementation
- Organisations improving safety outcomes focus on reducing friction and automating enforcement rather than just implementing new tools
Facilities management is one of the most manually burdened sectors of Australian workplace safety, with paper-based systems, poor incident follow-through, and insecure site access creating avoidable risks, according to new research launched today.
The Australian Workplace Safety Market Research Report, commissioned by Rapid Global and conducted by Research Without Barriers, surveyed more than 1,000 Australian safety managers, workers and contractors across high-risk industries, including facility management.
Facilities management stands out for its strong use of manual and paper-based safety processes, leaving room for compliance gaps. More than a quarter, or 26 per cent, of managers still rely on paper for safety activities, and 49 per cent say manual ID or compliance checks at site entry are slow and error-prone. Critically, 52 per cent of workers say it is possible to gain site entry even if training is incomplete or expired.
Incident reporting is another weak point. While workers are expected to identify hazards, confidence that reports lead to action is extremely low. Only 17 per cent of workers believe all reported incidents lead to corrective action, and 66 per cent say the reporting procedure could be easier. The situation is alarming when 45% of workers say managers rely heavily on them to identify hazards and incidents.
People are more worried than hopeful about AI in this sector. Almost half of facility management workers, 47 per cent, believe AI will replace senior management roles, and 31 per cent worry it will take their job. This anxiety is keeping people from using tools that may make work easier and safer, which points to the need for clearer leadership communication about AI as a support mechanism, not a threat.
Professor Dr Andrew Sharman, a global authority on safety culture and CEO of the International Institute of Leadership & Safety Culture, says the findings reflect a familiar pattern seen repeatedly across global workplaces. "Safety is often well documented, yet not consistently felt by people on the ground," he says. "Bridging the gap between policy and practice is less about systems alone and much more about leadership. Trust is the critical differentiator."
The findings, according to Ezequiel Gonzalez, Head of Revenue at Rapid Global, demonstrate that complexity, rather than intent, increasingly shapes safety risk. "Australia has made significant progress in workplace safety, yet complacency remains," he asserts. "Complex, high-risk environments require more than simply checking boxes. " Technology should not replace human judgement but make it sharper. When systems are easier to use and data is easier to act on, safer outcomes follow."
According to the research, the organisations most likely to improve safety outcomes are not those modernising with the most tools but those reducing friction, automating enforcement, and making safe behaviour the easiest option for day-to-day reality on site.
Rebuilding trust is now critical. The research shows that technology can close many of these gaps, but only when positioned as a support for workers, not a threat, and when enforcement is automatic rather than discretionary.
To access the report, please visit: https://rapidglobal.com/lp/au-market-research/
About us:
About Rapid Global
Rapid Global is an Australian AI-powered platform transforming workplace safety and compliance, with more than 7m users worldwide. Trusted by leading global companies, Rapid brings together more than 20 years of industry experience to deliver a smarter, more proactive approach to managing safety. From contractor pre-qualification and online inductions to visitor management, site access control, audits, AI-enabled camera monitoring, and incident reporting, Rapid gives organisations one connected platform to keep people safe and workplaces compliant. https://rapidglobal.com/
