Transport and warehousing campaign report (April–June 2025)

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) conducted a transport and warehousing industry compliance campaign between April and June 2025, focusing on the priority hazard of mobile plant. The campaign sought to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by raising industry awareness and assessing work health and safety compliance at transport and warehousing businesses across Queensland.

From 2019 to 2023, mobile plant and transport incidents accounted for 91.4% of fatalities in Queensland’s transport and warehousing industry and workers continue to experience serious incidents and fatalities involving mobile plant. During this period, 58 workers died in transport industry incidents.

The campaign included two phases: phase one – education and awareness; phase two – inspector activities, including workplace inspections and compliance action.

Phase one - How we shared safety knowledge

Phase one of the campaign focused on education and awareness. We reached approximately 24,000 Queensland businesses by email, sharing targeted information and practical guidance materials.

WHSQ also emailed current forklift licence holders with information and guidance on forklift licensing and safe forklift operation.

Following the campaign, we surveyed businesses to understand its effectiveness, impact and long-term value. The below insights are based on 228 survey responses:

• 78% of respondents from the transport industry felt prepared for the audit.
• Nearly half of all survey respondents communicated with senior leaders about the campaign or reviewed their safety management systems.
• Some businesses also discussed the campaign with workers, reviewed hazard controls, and conducted workplace inspections.
• The main reasons businesses made long term work health and safety improvements were to maintain compliance and improve safety, followed by a commitment to continuous improvement.
• 40% of respondents from the transport industry reported making long-term improvements, including updating safety systems and strengthening forklift safety practices.

Phase two - What we found

Phase two focused on workplace inspections. Inspectors assessed compliance and addressed non-compliance. Between April and June 2025, inspectors conducted 267 assessments of transport and warehousing businesses across Queensland.

To ensure a fair and consistent approach, all assessments were conducted using a standardised audit tool.

Inspectors identified the following common areas of non-compliance:

Mobile plant

• Businesses had not maintained or serviced plant in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. Plant defects included broken seatbelts and missing backrests or armrests.
• Workers left plant unattended with keys in the ignition.
• Pre-operational checks were not completed or documented.
• Damaged plant was not isolated and tagged before use.
• Information about forklift capacity reductions when using attachments was not available.

Licence

• Plant operators did not hold the required licence.
• License information was not documented or recorded at the workplace.

Work environment

• No designated safe zones for delivery drivers during unloading activities.
• Walkways were not clearly separated from areas where mobile plant operated.
• Forklifts operated in public pedestrian areas without traffic management controls.
• No traffic management plans were in place to manage interactions between mobile plant and vehicle.
• Some businesses had documented traffic management plans but had not implemented the required controls.

Information, training and instruction

• No process was in place to ensure workers remained competent to operate powered mobile plant.
• No procedures were in place to ensure plant was safe and fully operational before use.
• Workers had not received adequate instruction or training on forklift operations, particularly loading and unloading activities.

Electrical

• Safety checks of electrical equipment including safety switches, tools and equipment were overdue.
• Electrical equipment was not tested in accordance with the relevant Australian Standard (AS/NZS 3000:2018).

What actions we took

Inspectors issued 290 enforcement notices during the campaign.

The table below provides details of the top three most common infringement notices issued.

How to keep your workplace safe

To effectively manage risks from mobile plant in transport and warehousing workplaces, it is recommended that businesses take the following actions:

• Maintain and service all mobile plant and address issues such as broken seatbelts and damaged seats.
• Secure unattended plant and remove keys to prevent unauthorised use.
• Complete pre‑operational checks, inspect plant before use and keep records of completed checks.
• Isolate damaged or faulty plant and tag it out of service until repairs are completed.
• Provide information about forklift attachments and ensure workers understand how attachments can affect forklift capacity.
• Verify licences and records. Ensure plant operators hold the required high-risk work licences and maintain appropriate records.
• Implement effective traffic management controls and manage interactions between mobile plant, vehicles and pedestrians.
• Create safe areas for workers and visitors. Establish safe areas for delivery drivers provide clearly marked pedestrian walkways.
• Educate workers and verify competency. Provide plant-specific training and regularly assess worker competency.
• Maintain electrical safety. Verify electrical installations and equipment and comply with electrical testing requirements.

Safety is a shared responsibility. Whether you’re an employer, contractor, worker, or dedicated health and safety representative—you play a role in keeping yourself and others safe.