How Compliance OHS Strengthens Safety at Dukes

Dukes has always placed safe, well-managed operations at the centre of our work. During a time of rapid expansion, we wanted to ensure our safety systems were capable of matching this growth and that they were fully compliant. While we already had extensive processes in place, we recognised the value of having an external specialist validate these and identify opportunities we may have missed internally to strengthen them. We first reached out to Compliance OHS in 2019 and engaged them in early 2020.

As our client base became increasingly complex, so too did the expectations for safety documentation and risk management, and Compliance OHS’ ongoing partnership has provided the independent expertise needed to give us confidence in our systems and scalability.

Shifting from a small to medium-sized contractor into a structured organisation required more robust processes around SWMS, risk assessments, incident reporting, site inspection and corrective actions. It was important to us that our systems compared well with industry leaders, and we could only guarantee this with the assistance of an experienced external specialist.

We have found that having the oversight of Compliance OHS promotes a stronger culture of accountability, clearer expectations, thorough preparation and improved documentation across the Dukes team because everyone understands that our systems are checked externally and consistently. It also removes uncertainty, as staff know that procedures are not based on individual preference, which supports consistent and safe decision-making.

Regular check-ins with Compliance OHS help us stay ahead of potential issues rather than responding after the fact. Their specialist guidance has also been invaluable during complex audits and high-risk work, particularly when preparing documentation for government projects.

Our work with Compliance OHS is based on a structured cycle of review and refinement, which we recently discussed with their director, Ben Knox. Engaging an external expert is a seamless process that begins with an assessment of current operations and systems. As Ben explains, “We aim to have a very robust work health safety management system developed with the overall goal being to protect the workers.” This shaped the initial update of our documents and continues to guide our safety evolution.

Education is a significant component of the work. Compliance OHS helped us build our online induction, and they have supported the training of our teams to ensure consistent use. “Essentially, we put the systems in place, educate teams and then Dukes runs the systems,” Ben says.

As for ongoing involvement, Compliance OHS completes scheduled reviews with us every three months. This includes examining our systems, site practices and documentation, and they provide a clear report outlining what has been completed and anything requiring attention. These reviews give us continuous opportunities for improvement and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

We also rely on their support when a project requires job-specific risk controls that sit outside our standard procedures. They advise us on the safest method of working when a task presents unusual or high-risk conditions. Their team is available on call for incidents or urgent questions, which gives us access to specialist WHS guidance whenever needed.

From a day-to-day operations perspective, the validation and help of an external expert means we know we’re in alignment with best practice for safety across the commercial painting industry. Clear procedures support consistent assessments and quoting, job planning and determining the safest access methodology for each project.

The WHS landscape in commercial painting is in a constant state of evolution, and having continuing check-ins with Compliance OHS means we’re able to adapt, stay current and never fall behind. Ben also explains that their role is to “assist in filling any gaps in relation to legislative compliance but also best practice.”

This perpetual process of refinement has led to clearer documentation and inspection routines for our supervisors to use, which reduces time on site and improves accuracy. Ben says, “We’re constantly evaluating what they’re doing, how they’re doing it, and looking for ways to do it better,” and this has contributed to fewer near-miss events and stronger oversight across projects.

In speaking with Ben, it was clear he saw a strong safety culture at Dukes from the very beginning. He said our willingness to invest in improvement was unusual for a business of our size and that this commitment set the foundation for the partnership. He also noted that our performance sits well above typical expectations for a contractor of our scale, which he attributes to the systems we already had in place and our ongoing commitment to strengthen them.

A significant part of this strength comes from the way we approach access methodology. Across the industry, quoting and planning often fall short when it comes to selecting the safest way to reach work areas, and this is where many contractors cut corners. We choose the correct method rather than the cheapest, even when those decisions come with added complexity. Coupled with maintaining quarterly reviews for five years, this consistency has helped keep safety firmly embedded across our operations.

Ben also highlighted the role of leadership engagement and noted the consistent involvement from our senior team, particularly Lauren, in keeping the systems active and successful across the business. While many commercial painting entities our size shy away from best practice safety systems, believing they’re too costly or complicated, Dukes continues to put safety at the forefront of operational importance.

While our systems are strong, we also acknowledge that even with comprehensive processes in place, complications can still arise in any high-risk industry. In those moments, having Compliance OHS by our side provides clarity and support. Their expertise helps guide our response and reinforces our approach so we continue to learn, adjust and protect both our people, our clients and our business.

Our work with Compliance OHS has shown the value of having a partner who understands our needs. Their independence provides us with honest, unbiased feedback, and their practical approach ensures that legislation is translated into processes our teams can use every day. We also know we can rely on them when our work is subject to client or regulatory scrutiny, and their ongoing support helps us stay ahead of emerging risks and changing expectations.

They have become a trusted extension of our team while keeping the objectivity we depend on.

If you’d like to learn more about how we manage safety across every stage of our projects, or how our processes support complex work across various sectors, get in touch with our team today.

By Paul Williams
General Manager