Rural ISSC communique: July 2024
The Rural Industry Standing Committee (the Committee) met on 10 July 2024. The Chair, Associate Professor Kelly Johnstone, welcomed Committee members and guests to the third meeting.
Expert committee member, Professor Richard Franklin, presented a comprehensive industry update about quad bikes, including:
- a brief history of quad bike safety, including a summary of WHS regulator activity on quad bike safety between 2016 and 2022
- an overview of the epidemiology of quad bikes incidents (and compensated quad bike incidents) in Agriculture.
Members held an in-depth discussion exploring options to improve quad bike safety at rural workplaces and agreed to submit recommendations to the WHS Board concerning regulator campaigns and government support to improve quad bike safety.
The Chair facilitated discussion on heat stress in order to provide feedback to the WHS Board on a proposed heat stress Code of Practice. The Committee supported guidance about managing exposure to heat stress, noting the importance of being consulted in the development of documentation.
Members considered the Managing the risk of psychosocial hazards at work Code of Practice 2022 since it came into effect on 1 April 2023. They noted the Regulator’s response to complaints received and discussed their industry sectors’ experiences of the matter over the previous 12 months.
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 9 October 2024.
ISSC secretariat | Email: oirboardsandcommittees@oir.qld.gov.au