Site superintendents, supervisors and forepersons are employees working in the on-site building, engineering and civil construction industry. They're primarily engaged to directly supervise employees, including leading hands.  These employees may have job titles such as superintendent, supervisor or foreperson. They may supervise a site, part of a site or a particular type of work. If they are supervising an entire site they will usually be called a site superintendent, site foreperson or site supervisor.

The job titles supervisor / foreperson and site supervisor / site foreperson are often used interchangeably.

Duties of these types of employees can include:

• responsibility for the workplace health and safety of labourers, contractors and visitors at a work site
• reviewing plans and blueprints
• overseeing the work of other employees
• liaising with contractors and subcontractors
• co-ordinating the day-to-day operations of the building project, at a site level.

These types of employees don't generally work ‘on the tools.’

They would typically spend most of their work time at a work site.

An employer may require an on-site supervisor to have industry experience or hold qualifications in a specific trade.

Construction project managers are responsible for construction projects. They may be onsite or offsite. For information on construction project managers see Award coverage for a project manager in a construction company.

Building and Construction Award

The Building and Construction Award contains a specific classification for forepersons and supervisors.

Coverage depends on:

• the employer operating in the on-site building, engineering and civil construction industry
• the employee being employed in the metal and engineering construction sector of the industry
• the employer having more than 30 employees
• the employee’s duties, qualifications and responsibilities falling within the classification.

Miscellaneous Award

The Miscellaneous Award can cover onsite superintendents, supervisors and forepersons if they’re not managerial or professional employees.

Whether they are a managerial or professional employee will depend on the facts of each case. Employees and employers may wish to seek independent advice on their own situation.

Award free employees

Site supervisors and forepersons engaged in the onsite building, engineering and civil construction industry, who aren’t covered by the Building and Construction Award or Miscellaneous Award are award free.

They’re entitled to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards.