Health & Safety

LEADERSHIP 

Argosy’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Framework is implemented by Management’s Health and Safety Committee and overseen by the Board, where Health and Safety is a standing agenda item at each meeting. Argosy’s Directors regularly attend site visits with Argosy’s Head of Health, Safety and Compliance to familiarise themselves with health and safety practices in the property industry.

Management’s Health and Safety Committee, which provides a report to each Board meeting, includes a representative cross-section of the Management Team providing the opportunity for input on Health and Safety matters from across Argosy’s business. The Head of Health, Safety and Compliance presents the Committee’s report to the Board.

Argosy’s Head of Health, Safety and Compliance routinely visits sites to observe contractor work practices. This occurs at prestart meetings prior to commencement of work and while work is carried out. Concerns about contractor work practices and reported incidents are routinely followed up with contractors.

The Head of Health, Safety and Compliance also meets regularly with Argosy’s preferred contractors which provides an opportunity to collaborate on concerns raised by Argosy or contractors. During the year Argosy arranged a mental health awareness event for contractors, inviting contractors it works with to a presentation from a prominent mental health advocate. Every three years, Argosy engages external health and safety experts to review its health and safety system and provide recommendations. A review was carried out in 2024 and recommendations from the review have been implemented.

Performance

• Board site visits
• Routine health and safety reporting
• Regular Health and Safety Committee meetings
• Pre-start meetings and observations for works at Argosy sites
• External health and safety review carried out in 2024
   

WORKER ENGAGEMENT

Argosy is committed to training and development, ensuring that Argosy employees have access to appropriate health and safety training resources. This includes health and safety inductions for new employees, regular training updates and support for the safe and timely return to work of injured employees.

To facilitate employee engagement, Argosy maintains a Workplace Health and Safety Committee (WHSC). The WHSC focuses on health, safety and wellness for Argosy’s corporate workplace and operations and offers a forum for Argosy employees to raise any concerns they have about their working environment.

Argosy promotes employee wellness by offering flexible working arrangements, a paid parental leave top-up, subsidised gym memberships and access to an independent employee assistance programme. It also provides access to subsidised health, life and disability insurance for all permanent employees.

New tenants are inducted by Argosy’s Head of Health, Safety and Compliance which ensures an understanding of hazards and promotes ongoing collaboration. Leases set out health and safety requirements and the Head of Health, Safety and Compliance meets with tenant representatives on a regular basis.

Argosy also promotes the health, safety and wellness of contractors and subcontractors, particularly in the construction industry. Contractors engaged by Argosy undergo a prequalification before they can work at its sites. It also includes health and safety requirements in agreements with contractors, and collects information about contractor health, safety and wellness practices.

Performance

• Employee engagement through the WHSC and annual staff surveys
• Non-pay benefits and subsidised health, life and disability insurance
• Tenant inductions and regular meetings with tenant representatives
• Contractor prequalification and observations
   

RISK MANAGEMENT

Argosy has identified the following areas of particular focus for managing health and safety risks in the context of its property investment and management business:

• Processes for appointing and managing contractors
• Processes for identifying and managing high-risk work
• Tenant alterations and additions 

Argosy uses technology to streamline hazard management, risk identification and incident reporting. Its contractor management system allows real time notification of hazards, emergency procedures and building information to contractors visiting Argosy sites, through smart phone technology. This also provides transparency over contractor attendance at its sites. Argosy's event management and incident reporting system enables it to keep track of reported hazards and follow up with contractors. 

Argosy is committed to actively encouraging tenants and contractors to demonstrate the same commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety performance as Argosy does. Argosy requires pre-start meetings with contractors appointed to carry out work for Argosy and encourages collaborative meetings with tenants carrying out alterations and additions.

Performance

• Contractor approval and induction process for new contractors
• Annual reviews of contractor health and safety policies and reported incidents
• Monthly meetings with key contractors to discuss health and safety issues
• Pre-start meetings for high-risk work (for example, hot works and working at height)
• Following up reported health and safety breaches with contractors
• Working with contractors to organise workshops on issues such as mental health, suicide prevention awareness and stress management
• Providing training and personal protective equipment to Argosy employees
• Collaboration with fire, roofing, evacuation and building wash contractors to provide practical, hands-on workshops for front line staff
• Collaboration with tenants carrying out alterations to ensure a clear allocation of health and safety responsibilities