Statewide campaign to make workplaces safer

Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations
The Honourable Cameron Dick
11/03/2010
Statewide campaign to make workplaces safer

The Bligh Government has embarked on the state's largest medium-sized business education and audit campaign to help keep workers safe from workplace injury and death.

Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick said from this month, the government would start an inspection program targeting each of the 7750 medium-sized businesses in Queensland to ensure they have effective systems in place to manage workplace health and safety.

"Medium-sized businesses employ about one in five of our state's workforce, however they account for about one in three workers' compensation claims lodged every year," Mr Dick said.

"The only way we can tackle the high number of workplace injuries and fatalities that occur in Queensland each year is to target the areas of largest concern."

Mr Dick said all medium-sized businesses would also be offered a free safety advisory session to help identify any issues before the inspections begin.

"These advisory session s will allow Queensland's medium-sized businesses to work with us to discuss workplace health and safety issues, identify problem areas and develop better safety practices," he said.

"Businesses that take advantage of the offer will be given time to apply what they have learnt and make improvements to their safety systems, if needed, before being inspected. Those businesses that do not attend a voluntary advisory session may be inspected at any time."

Mr Dick said many medium-sized businesses were involved in manufacturing, construction and retail, where there was a high incidence of manual task injuries.

"This initiative is in response to the high percentage of workers' compensation claims lodged by medium-sized businesses with annual payrolls of between $1 million and $10 million each year," he said.

"Inspections and advisory sessions will be conducted over the next 12 months with half of Queensland's medium-sized businesses to be contacted this month and the other half in September 2010."

For more information on this initiative, including registering for a free advisory session, visit the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website www.worksafe.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 915.

Permanent Link: Statewide campaign to make workplaces safer
Publish Date: 12 Mar 10