Whole of industry interventions
On this page
- Asbestos compliance campaign
- Sprains and strains assessment
- Onsite traffic management and pedestrian safety project
- Asbestos removal businesses
- Participative ergonomics for manual tasks (PErforM)
- People at work
Asbestos compliance campaign
The audits will target businesses operating from buildings built before 1990 and where asbestos is or may be present. Assessments will focus on compliance with requirements under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (WHS Regulation) and codes of practice to have asbestos registers and management plans in place. Inspectors will take enforcement action if the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres is not being managed effectively.
Targeted areas: Statewide
What can my business do to prepare?
Ensure you comply with requirements for asbestos registers and management plans in accordance with Part 8.3 Management of asbestos and associated risks (the WHS Regulation).
During the visit, you should provide the inspector with:
- your asbestos register and management plan
- any relevant inspections by a competent person under section 422 of the WHS Regulation or otherwise concerning asbestos in the building.
Sprains and strains assessment
Sprain and strain injuries account for more than 60 per cent of non-fatal workers' compensation claims. The two most common causes are hazardous manual tasks and slips, trips and falls at level.
Inspectors will visit workplaces which have had a recent worker's compensation claim for a sprain or strain injury to:
- assess work tasks that expose workers to risk factors
- determine if adequate action has been taken to control the risk factors.
Targeted areas: Statewide
What can my business do to prepare?
Prepare for a sprains and strains assessment by using self-assessment tools and other resources.
Onsite traffic management and pedestrian safety project
Businesses in the construction, manufacturing, transport and agriculture industries will be the focus of a statewide campaign targeting traffic management in 2016 and 2017.
The project aims to reduce the rate of fatalities and severity of injuries due to incidents between mobile plant and pedestrians in Queensland workplaces.
As part of the project, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors will visit businesses to raise awareness of the risks and help them implement effective traffic management strategies.
Asbestos removal businesses
The compliance of businesses licensed to remove asbestos containing materials will be assessed against licensing conditions, the Work Health and Safety Act and Regulation, relevant codes of practice, and managing risk and exposure to asbestos fibers. Businesses will be audited during actual removal activities following notification to WHSQ of an intended removal.
Targeted areas: Statewide. WHSQ will contact you prior to visiting the asbestos removal location.
What can my business do to prepare and participate?
Ensure you comply with the conditions of your asbestos removal licence, the requirements of Part 8 - Asbestos in the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (the WHS Regulation), How to safely remove asbestos Code of Practice 2021 (PDF, 2.22 MB) and the transitional arrangements for asbestos.
You should also provide the WHSQ inspector with:
- your asbestos removal control plan
- records of the training of your workers in regard to content of asbestos removal control plan
- any relevant licences
- certificate/s of completion of specified VET training (or transitional training requirements if applicable) for workers and supervisors
- a copy of air monitoring results (if air monitoring required)
- copies of clearance certificates (if the removal work is completed).
Participative ergonomics for manual tasks (PErforM)
In Queensland, the highest number of non-fatal workers' compensation claims is for musculoskeletal injuries. The majority of these injuries are caused by manual tasks. This program is a simplified risk management program that involves workplace teams devising solutions for high risk manual tasks. The program was developed in 2000 by WHSQ, the University of Queensland and the Curtin University of Technology as part of a research project. Industry and workplaces receive help to implement the PErforM program to improve their management of manual task risks and compliance with legislative standards.
Targeted areas: Statewide
What can my business do to prepare and participate?
Find out more information about PErforM and how to register for free train-the-trainer workshops.
People at work
The People at Work project is a psychosocial risk assessment process. It measures how different workplace characteristics influence worker health and well-being, focusing particularly on risks to psychological health.
Targeted areas: Statewide
For more information or to discuss your organisation's participation in the People at Work Project, email enquiries@peopleatworkproject.com.au.