Manufacturing ISSC communique: September 2025
The Manufacturing Industry Sector Standing Committee (the Committee) met on 4 September 2025.
Members welcomed the Chair of the Work Health and Safety Board (WHS Board), Mr Michael Hart, who was appointed to the role in January 2025. Mr Hart, who attended at the start of the meeting, acknowledged the work of the Committee in providing grounded industry insights and feedback to support the WHS Board perform its advisory function.
Members discussed the issue of welding fumes in the manufacturing sector. Members noted the Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) for aluminium welding had been reduced from 5 mg/m3 to 1 mg/m3. Members welcomed the WES reduction.
Members observed that the 2025-2026 summer season is fast approaching and that more should be done to mitigate heat stress. Members discussed that heat stress resources need to be ready for the upcoming 2025-2026 summer season.
Members also discussed the importance of pedestrian detection technologies, particularly for forklifts. Members noted the value of pedestrian detection systems as a safety control and considered how the Committee can help the transport and storage sectors get a comprehensive view of pedestrian detection technology solutions.
Mr Trent Bazley, General Manager MATES in Mining, Energy and Manufacturing, joined the meeting to present on MATES in Manufacturing (MATES). Mr Bazley gave a summary of the MATES programs which provides evidence based training and resources to identify and minimise psychological risks in the workplace. MATES delivers suicide awareness and peer to peer support programs, along with case management and referrals to appropriate professional services. The Committee noted the ongoing issue of suicide in the manufacturing industry.
Mr Bazley informed the Committee that MATES has begun a pilot phase in Queensland and that MATES is seeking assistance with research, funding and stakeholder advocacy.
The next Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 4 December 2025.
ISSC secretariat | Email: oirboardsandcommittees@oir.qld.gov.au