Meat processing compliance campaign 2022–2023 findings

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) conducted a state-wide meat processing industry engagement and enforcement campaign between June 2022 — February 2023.

The campaign aimed to prevent and minimise the risk of injuries to workers in high-risk meat processing workplaces and increase industry compliance. It focussed on meat processing workplaces with claims above the workers' compensation average industry rates and included meat abattoirs (medium and large), wholesale meat (large), and value adding small goods meat processing workplaces (large).

Key risks identified

The key work health and safety (WHS) risks identified during the campaign were:

unsafe handling and moving of objects
unsafe manual tasks
slips, trips and falls
falling objects and working at height without protection
inadequate plant guarding
amputation
cuts and lacerations
use of inadequate hand tools (knives and electric tools).

Campaign outputs

WHSQ inspectors assessed 48 meat processing workplaces and issued 142 enforcement actions for non-compliance including:

116 improvement notices
two infringement notices ($7,200 fines incurred)
four prohibition notices
20 immediate compliances (issues resolved during the inspection).

Campaign findings

The most frequent non-compliant issues identified were:

Area of non-compliance	Issues
Plant equipment risk	not managing plant equipment risks (i.e. no guarding, exposed entanglement and entrapment points, no isolation or lockout/tagout (LOTO) process, uncontrolled risk of being hit by falling or moving objects, lack of maintenance on forklifts (damaged tyres, operator seat damaged).
System of work	no or inadequate system of work not complying with system of work (i.e. safe system of work not followed) no system or process to identify and report hazards.
Fall risk	not managing fall from height risks (i.e. no harness or fall protection).
Slip, trip and fall	not managing slip, trip and fall risks (i.e. falls from same level risks, cords on floors, and slippery floors).

Campaign recommendations for meat processors

Record all WHS risks and non-compliance issues in a risk register in order of priority, from very high, to low risk.
Regularly consult with workers and their health and safety representatives to identify hazards and risks and add these to a risk register.
Use the hierarchy of controls to implement control measures to manage risks in consultation with workers.
Implement a system to monitor and review the ongoing suitability and effectiveness of controls.
Communicate with all workers to ensure they understand the systems in place to manage risks. Ensure workers adhere to established systems, through effective supervision.
Train and educate workers (including on specific control measures) on how to manage key WHS risks. Consider the key risks identified in this campaign (i.e. workers not trained in LOTO procedures, workers not having access to locks, tags and equipment, plant not fitted with guards etc).

Resources

The following resources will assist you to improve safety processes and ensure compliance.

Guidance

Self-assessment tool for workplaces (PDF, 1.31 MB)
Knives at work
How to keep young workers safe when they use knives and cutting tools at work (PDF, 0.28 MB)
Knife sharpening programs in the red meat processing industry
Guide to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (PDF, 0.35 MB) (includes information on training, instruction and supervision)
Labour hire agencies: Managing the safety of on-hired workers (PDF, 0.28 MB)
Host employers: Managing the safety of labour hire workers (PDF, 0.26 MB)

Codes of practice

Work health and safety consultation, co-operation and co-ordination Code of Practice 2011 (PDF, 0.49 MB)
How to manage work health and safety risks Code of Practice 2011 (PDF, 0.65 MB)
Hazardous manual tasks Code of Practice 2011
Managing risks of plant in the workplace Code of Practice 2013 (PDF, 1.57 MB)
Managing the work environment and facilities Code of Practice 2011 (PDF, 0.57 MB) (includes falling objects and working at heights)
Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace Code of Practice 2013 (PDF, 1.21 MB)

Injury Prevention and Management Program

Take advantage of tailored, face-to-face advice provided by our Injury Prevention and Management (IPaM) advisors. IPaM advisors can assist to assess your systems and advise you on how to make improvements. The IPaM service is free for Queensland businesses. Register for IPaM now to talk to an advisor or email for more information.

Further information

Contact WHSQ at manufacturing.whsq@oir.qld.gov.au or call 1300 362 128. Information on the labour hire licensing scheme can be found at labourhire.qld.gov.au.