Public consultation on Work Health and Electrical Safety Policy
Policy and Workplace Services (PWS) provides evidence-based policy and legislative advice on work and electrical safety to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) and the Electrical Safety Office (ESO).
WHSQ is the work health and safety regulator for Queensland and the ESO is Queensland’s electrical safety regulator. Both regulators are situated in the Office of Industrial Relations.
PWS consults with industry, businesses, worker representatives, technical experts, academics, advocacy groups, ‘lived experience’ groups, other regulators and the wider community as an integral part of developing and evaluating policies.
This may include consultation on the development of codes of practice or guidance material or on changes to legislation.
The benefits of public consultation include:
- better solutions for real world application
- greater public awareness of health and safety
- input from a wider range of expertise and
- increased transparency for the regulator and government.
Consultation enables the people affected by regulation to have a say on regulation.
This page provides up to date information on consultation being undertaken by PWS, including where we are involved in national policy development with Safe Work Australia.
Information on consultation by other departments that is open for public submission is also available from the Queensland Government's Get Involved website.
Open consultations
The below consultation is now open.
The Tilt-up and precast construction Code of Practice 2003 (the Code) is currently under review.
The Code is a Queensland-specific code of practice that was preserved under section 284 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. The preserved Code commended on 1 January 2012.
The Code provides practical guidance to persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) on how to meet their health and safety duties for the design, manufacture, lifting and installation of tilt-up and precast elements. It does not consider every issue in this type of construction but focuses on the primary safety issues.
The Code includes information on:
- health and safety duties in tilt-up and precast construction
- training, instruction and supervision
- engineering and verification issues
- crane installation and lifting procedures
- exclusion zones for tilt-up panel installation
- risk controls for lifting precast concrete elements
- wind effect on lifting concrete elements.
Consultation information
The Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) is seeking feedback on a draft update to the Code (PDF, 2.24 MB). The proposed changes aim to ensure that the Code continues to provide fit-for-purpose regulation for industry and the community.
The summary of key changes table (PDF, 1.4 MB) is available to support your feedback.
How to make a submission
To provide a written submission on the draft update to the Code, please email whspolicy@oir.qld.gov.au.
Please clearly mark any comments or information you wish to remain confidential.
Consultation will open on 3 June 2026 and close 3 July 2026, at 5pm AEST.
The Queensland Government is committed to transparency in developing public policy. Information provided in submissions as part of the public consultation process may be published on the OIR website or included in other documents associated with this process.
Reviewing codes of practice
When undertaking a review of a code of practice the process involved and the frequency at which it occurs varies depending on which legislation the code is made under and whether it is derived from a model code of practice.
Codes of practice approved under the Work Health and Safety Act after 23 October 2017 are reviewed at least every five years.
The scope of a code review will depend on a range of factors including:
- evidence-based risk priorities, including alignment with the WHSQ Priority Plan 2024-2030.
- when the code was last subject to a comprehensive review
- major developments in technology, research or work practices
- relevant incidents
- relevant court decisions or legal developments
- relevant coronial inquest findings or recommendations
- whether it is a Queensland-specific code or based on a national model code.
General reviews of codes are confined to:
- technical information that needs updating (e.g. new information in safety alerts)
- legislative consistency (e.g. any new legislative requirements)
- updating references to publications mentioned in the code (e.g. updating references to Australian Standards)
- editorial changes to improve readability.
Major reviews of codes usually involve:
- putting a discussion paper (and draft changes) out for public comment or forming a steering group with representatives from industry, workers and WHSQ to work on a new draft
- extensive consideration of the technical content of the code
- legal and policy analysis of the code
- Office of Best Practice Regulation consideration of proposed changes
- a longer review timeframe, typically around two years to complete.
In addition to codes that are currently open for review, you can have a say about codes by providing feedback for future reviews.
These codes are developed by WHSQ specifically for Queensland and must be reviewed every five years (see section 274, WHS Act):
- Concrete pumping Code of Practice 2019
- Scaffolding Code of Practice 2021
- Managing the Risk of Psychosocial hazards at work Code of Practice 2022
- Managing Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust Exposure in Construction and Manufacturing of Construction Elements Code of Practice 2022
- Managing Respirable Dust Hazards in Coal-fired Power Stations Code of Practice 2023
- Amusement Devices Code of Practice 2023
- Construction and Operation of Solar Farms Code of Practice 2024
- Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2024
- Rural Plant Code of Practice 2024
- Sugar Mill Safety Code of Practice 2024
National model codes are developed and reviewed by Safe Work Australia. Feedback submitted regarding these codes will be shared with Safe Work Australia to assist in updating national model codes.
- Abrasive Blasting Code of Practice 2021
- Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021
- Demolition Work Code of Practice 2021
- Excavation Work Code of Practice 2021
- First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
- Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
- How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
- How to Safely Remove Asbestos Code of Practice 2021
- How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
- Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
- Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
- Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
- Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
- Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
- Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
- Managing Risks in Stevedoring Code of Practice 2023
- Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
- Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice 2021
- Spray Painting and Powder Coating Code of Practice 2021
- Welding Processes Code of Practice 2021
- Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination Code of Practice 2021
The following codes of practice are approved under the Electrical Safety Act 2002:
- Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020—Electrical Equipment Rural Industry
- Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020—Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines
- Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020—Works
- Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2021—Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace
- Construction and Operation of Solar Farms Code of Practice 2024
No reviews are currently scheduled for the electrical safety codes; however, you can have a say about codes by submitting feedback for future reviews.
The following code of practice is approved under the Safety in Recreational Water Activities Act 2011:
- Recreational Diving, Recreational Technical Diving and Snorkelling Code of Practice 2024.
This code commenced on 1 August 2024 following a review of the former code. No review is scheduled; however, you can have a say on this code by submitting feedback for a future review.
Closed consultations
The following consultations are now closed.
The Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (the Regulation) is subordinate legislation made under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (the Act). The Regulation outlines compliance requirements and ways of meeting obligations under the Act, including requirements for electrical work, licensing, risk management, and equipment safety.
The Regulation plays a critical role in protecting workers, contractors and the public from electrical hazards.
Under the Statutory Instruments Act 1992, subordinate legislation automatically expires (or ‘sunsets’) after 10 years unless it is remade. This ensures regulations are regularly reviewed and continue to support the economic, social and general wellbeing of Queensland. Sunset reviews are not designed to consider changes in policy or introduce additional regulatory or administrative requirements.
The Electrical Safety Regulation expires on 31 August 2026.
Public consultation period
The public consultation period for the information paper (PDF, 0.73 MB) and draft of the revised regulation (PDF, 1.85 MB) was held between 27 April 2026 and 25 May 2026, with submissions accepted until 5pm on 29 May 2026. Written submissions were encouraged from all interested parties. For further information please contact ESpolicy@oir.qld.gov.au.
Written submissions on proposed amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (WHS Regulation) to prescribe ‘high risk plant’ operated at premises other than workplaces. Consultation closed on Monday 27 October 2025.
Read more
On 13 March 2026, the Work Health and Safety (High Risk Plant) Amendment Regulation 2026 was made. It amended the WHS Regulation to:
- prescribe high risk plant at non-workplace premises for the purpose of Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- clarify the exclusion of lifts in private residences from the annual plant registration requirement under the WHS Regulation
- make minor technical amendments regarding procedural aspects of major amusement park and demolition work licences, and
- make minor technical amendments regarding respirable crystalline silica to ensure consistency with the national model WHS Regulations.
Written submissions on the five-yearly review of the Concrete pumping Code of Practice 2019 closed at 11:59pm (AEST) on Friday 10 October 2025.
Read more
Written submissions on the Regulator’s proposed new position on risk control measures for lifting precast panels where worker and public exclusion zones cannot be implemented. Submissions closed on Thursday 14 August 2025.
Read more
Consultation by the Queensland Government
The Queensland Productivity Commission undertook an inquiry into opportunities to improve productivity in Queensland’s construction sector, delivering on a key election commitment.
The inquiry examined the factors driving productivity in Queensland’s construction sector and made recommendations to improve productivity without compromising safety outcomes.
The inquiry’s Final Report was released on 21 January 2026.
Read the Queensland Government’s response to the Final Report.
Other jurisdictions' consultations
Safe Work Australia
Safe Work Australia (SWA) is a national policy body representing the interests of the Commonwealth, states and territories, as well as workers and employers. They develop national work health and safety policy and strategy and model Work Health and Safety legislation and guidance.
Visit Safe Work Australia consultation hub for details of open SWA consultations.
Best practice review of the model Work Health Safety (WHS) laws
SWA is undertaking a best practice review of the model Work Health Safety Act (model WHS Act) and model Work Health and Safety Regulation (model WHS Regulation) to identify opportunities to strengthen and maintain harmonisation of WHS laws and ensure they reflect contemporary best practice.
In 2025, SWA undertook a period of public consultation on a discussion paper which outlined the key issues. The discussion paper, published submissions, and a summary of the consultation outcomes are available on the Safe Work Australia consultation hub.
SWA is expected to provide their final report to WHS Ministers in August 2026.
Find out more about the Safe Work Australia best practice review process.
Consultation on the regulation of welding processes
SWA is consulting on a proposed approach to improve regulations around welding processes. This approach aims to better protect workers and others in the workplace from welding-related hazards.
A consultation paper is now available on the SWA consultation hub. Consultation will close on 12 July 2026.
Other ways you can get involved
In addition to being involved in consultation processes, you can get involved by:
- seeking to be a member on an Industry Sector Standing Committee
- seeking to be on a steering group for the development or review of a code of practice
- seeking to be a member on the Consultative Committee for Work-Related Fatalities and Serious Incidents.
Read more on the Work Health and Safety Board and committees and the Electrical Safety Board and committees.
Contact us
You can contact us for more information or to provide feedback on the work health and safety framework at whspolicy@oir.qld.gov.au and on the electrical safety framework at espolicy@oir.qld.gov.au
We will review any feedback provided and, where appropriate, consider during future reviews.