Construction industry interventions and campaigns
Construction blitz 2023
Following an increase in the number of construction-related fatalities in 2023, our inspectors audited 113 construction projects during November and December 2023 as part of a statewide compliance blitz. The blitz was undertaken to help increase industry awareness and test work health and safety compliance on high risk construction sites across Queensland.
Read more (PDF, 0.75 MB).
Other resources
- Managing the risk of falls while working on roofs in housing construction (PDF, 3.14 MB)
- Housing industry site safety pack - WorkCover NSW
- Safe work method statements
- Dial before you dig - safe excavation information
- Residential construction safety - back to basics campaign interim report (PDF, 1.49 MB)
Onsite traffic management campaign – pedestrian safety around vehicles and mobile plant
On-site traffic management (OSTM) is a significant safety issue across all types of industries. If OSTM risks are not properly managed, pedestrians may be seriously injured or killed.
In 2020 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) conducted an OSTM campaign focused on OSTM systems for high risk workplaces where mobile plant (e.g. forklifts, motor vehicles) operate near pedestrians.
Young workers in construction
The Young worker safety toolkit (PDF, 4.59 MB) helps employers of young workers, education and training providers, youth service providers and parents and caregivers engage with young people about work health and safety. It encourages actions that build the capabilities of young workers to be safe and productive at work, rather than just relying on them to speak up or ask the right questions.
The toolkit includes a range of resources such as films, presentation templates and checklists that are based on an understanding of how young people learn and communicate with others.
- Download the Young worker safety toolkit (PDF, 4.59 MB)
- Download An introduction to risks at work – a presentation for young workers (PPTX, 12.04 MB)
- Download Keeping young workers safe – a workshop for workplace supervisors and managers (PPTX, 8.97 MB)
Leadership in major contractors: Preventing sprain and strain injuries campaign
This campaign consisted of two phases. Phase one consisted of an advisory assessment of the principal contractors' hazardous manual tasks risk management systems followed by on-site verification assessment. Large principal contractors from the commercial and civil sectors were included in the assessments.
The findings highlighted that reducing musculoskeletal disorders in construction requires strong industry leadership and collaboration with all stakeholders.
View the campaign summary (PDF, 0.6 MB) and report (PDF, 1.68 MB).
Phase two of the campaign included:
- follow up assessments with those organisations who participated in phase one
- new assessments of other major contractors.
The WHSQ assessment team assessed the principal contractors' hazardous manual tasks risk management systems followed by on-site verification of principal contractors' systems. Specifically, they assessed hazardous manual tasks compliance with the WHS legislation and measured change in those who participated in phase one.
The assessments provided an opportunity for organisations in both commercial and civil construction sectors to:
- assess the effectiveness of their current hazardous manual task risk management systems
- identify opportunities for improvement.
Other resources
- Construction hazardous manual tasks risk management systems assessment tool (DOCX, 0.07 MB)
- Construction hazardous manual tasks site verification assessment tool (DOC, 0.17 MB).
There are a range of other hazardous manual task resources you can download and use in your workplace.
Mobile and operational plant in construction
This campaign measured the level of compliance in controlling risks associated with mobile and operational plant on civil and heavy construction sites. The campaign targeted maintenance, operator competence, and where applicable, traffic management. It also measured the effectiveness of safe work method statements and other control documentation, as a means of controlling high risk construction activities.
Four types of mobile and operational plant were assessed:
- earthmoving equipment
- hoists
- elevating work platforms
- lifting equipment.
Targeted areas: Statewide. WHSQ inspectors carried out both planned and unplanned audits across all sectors of the construction industry.
Further information
For information on audit tools and supporting guidance, visit the mobile and operational plant in construction page.
Past campaigns
- The material delivery and site management in residential construction campaign report (PDF, 1.15 MB)
- Managing risks of mobile and operational plant report (PDF, 0.74 MB)
- Manual handling plasterboard campaign report 2013 (PDF, 0.16 MB)
- 10-year major inspections of mobile and tower cranes 2008 (PDF, 0.05 MB)
- Recommendations on improving the safe use of suspended (swing stage) scaffolds 2008 (PDF, 0.08 MB)
- Tunnelling road header and related operations: dust conditions and their control 2010 (PDF, 0.15 MB)