Priority infringeable offences (on-the-spot fines)

The Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Policy was developed in response to the 2017 Best Practice Review of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

The policy explains how Workplace Health and Safety Queensland uses regulatory enforcement measures, including infringement notices (on-the-spot fines), to ensure duty holders are meeting their legislative duties to keep people safe from harm.

There are 240 infringement notice offences for contraventions of work health and safety and electrical safety legislation. Fines range from $144 to $720 for individuals, and $720 to $3,600 for a business.

A smaller number of infringeable offences have been identified as priority areas for enforcement. An inspector will place additional focus on these areas and if they identify a contravention of one of these provisions, will issue an infringement notice. These priorities will change periodically to reflect current and emerging risks.

The priority areas do not prevent an inspector from issuing an infringement notice for an infringeable offence not identified as a priority. Inspectors may issue an infringement notice for any infringement notice offence.

The following offences are priorities for inspectors:

1. Non-compliance with an improvement notice
   • The person must comply within the period stated on the notice - WHS Act s193.
   • The person must comply within the period stated on the notice - ES Act s146B.
2. Incident notification and reporting
   • PCBU must keep record of each notifiable incident for five years after notification - WHS Act s38(7).
   • PCBU must keep a record of each serious electrical incident or dangerous electrical event for at least five years after notification - ES Reg s265(6).
3. Consultation with workers
   • PCBU must allow adequate time for health and safety representatives to exercise powers/functions - WHS Act s70(2).
4. Safety management – construction projects
   • Safe work method statements (high risk construction work) - WHS Reg s299(1); s300(1); s300(2); s301; s302; s303(3); s312.
   • WHS management plan must be accessible - WHS Reg s313(3).
   • Provision of hygienic, safe and serviceable amenities - WHS Reg s315A(2).
5. Construction work
   • Trenching/excavation - WHS Reg s304(3); s304(5); s306(1).
   • Fall arrest system as control measure - WHS Reg s306I(7).
   • Ladder safety - WHS Reg s306K(2); s306L(3); s306O(5).
   • Scaffolding - WHS Reg s306P(2); s306Q(2).
   • Falling objects - WHS Reg s315F(3); s315G(3); s315L(3).
   • General construction induction training - WHS Reg s316.
6. General workplace management
   • Air monitoring for airborne contaminants - WHS Reg s50(1).
7. Specific hazardous work
   • Overhead or underground electric line (safe distance) - ES Reg s68(1); s68(2).
   • Confined spaces - WHS Reg s66(2); s69.
   • General diving work competency - WHS Reg s175(1).
   • Hazardous chemicals register – WHS Reg s346(1); s346(3).
   • Asbestos management - WHS Reg s425(1); s449; s419(1); s446(1); s446(3).
8. Licensed high-risk work
   • Written evidence of licence, training, application or certification - WHS Reg s85(1); s85(2); s85(3).
9. Electrical work
   • Electrical work - ES Reg 14; 15(1); 26(2); 31(1); 32(1).
   • Electrical installations - ES Reg 70; 71; 85(2).
   • Electrical supply - ES Reg 221(1); 221(2); 227(1).
10. Electrical licences
    • Unlicensed electrical work - ES Act 55(1); 56(1); 57(1).

More information

Further information is at worksafe.qld.gov.au.