Public consultation on Work Health and Electrical Safety Policy
Policy and Workplace Services (PWS) provides evidence-based policy and legislative advice on work and electrical safety to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) and the Electrical Safety Office (ESO).
WHSQ is the work health and safety regulator for Queensland and the ESO is Queensland’s electrical safety regulator. Both regulators are situated in the Office of Industrial Relations.
PWS consults with industry, businesses, worker representatives, technical experts, academics, advocacy groups, ‘lived experience’ groups, other regulators and the wider community as an integral part of developing and evaluating policies.
This may include consultation on the development of codes of practice or guidance material or on changes to legislation.
The benefits of public consultation include:
- better solutions for real world application
- greater public awareness of health and safety
- input from a wider range of expertise and
- increased transparency for the regulator and government.
Consultation enables the people affected by regulation to have a say on regulation.
This page provides up to date information on consultation being undertaken by PWS, including where we are involved in national policy development with Safe Work Australia.
Information on consultation by other departments that is open for public submission is also available from the Queensland Government's Get Involved website.
Reviewing codes of practice
When undertaking a review of a code of practice the process involved and the frequency at which it occurs varies depending on which legislation the code is made under and whether it is derived from a model code of practice.
Codes of practice approved under the Work Health and Safety Act after 23 October 2017 are reviewed at least every five years.
The scope of a code review will depend on a range of factors including:
- evidence-based risk priorities, including alignment with the WHSQ Priority Plan 2024-2030.
- when the code was last subject to a comprehensive review
- major developments in technology, research or work practices
- relevant incidents
- relevant court decisions or legal developments
- relevant coronial inquest findings or recommendations
- whether it is a Queensland-specific code or based on a national model code.
General reviews of codes are confined to:
- technical information that needs updating (e.g. new information in safety alerts)
- legislative consistency (e.g. any new legislative requirements)
- updating references to publications mentioned in the code (e.g. updating references to Australian Standards)
- editorial changes to improve readability.
Major reviews of codes usually involve:
- putting a discussion paper (and draft changes) out for public comment or forming a steering group with representatives from industry, workers and WHSQ to work on a new draft
- extensive consideration of the technical content of the code
- legal and policy analysis of the code
- Office of Best Practice Regulation consideration of proposed changes
- a longer review timeframe, typically around two years to complete.
In addition to codes that are currently open for review, you can have a say about codes by providing feedback for future reviews.
These codes are developed by WHSQ specifically for Queensland and must be reviewed every five years (see section 274, WHS Act):
- Concrete pumping Code of Practice 2019
- Scaffolding Code of Practice 2021
- Managing the Risk of Psychosocial hazards at work Code of Practice 2022
- Managing Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust Exposure in Construction and Manufacturing of Construction Elements Code of Practice 2022
- Managing Respirable Dust Hazards in Coal-fired Power Stations Code of Practice 2023
- Amusement Devices Code of Practice 2023
- Construction and Operation of Solar Farms Code of Practice 2024
- Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2024
- Rural Plant Code of Practice 2024
- Sugar Mill Safety Code of Practice 2024
National model codes are developed and reviewed by Safe Work Australia. Feedback submitted regarding these codes will be shared with Safe Work Australia to assist in updating national model codes.
- Abrasive Blasting Code of Practice 2021
- Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021
- Demolition Work Code of Practice 2021
- Excavation Work Code of Practice 2021
- First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
- Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
- How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
- How to Safely Remove Asbestos Code of Practice 2021
- How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
- Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
- Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
- Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
- Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
- Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
- Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
- Managing Risks in Stevedoring Code of Practice 2023
- Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
- Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice 2021
- Spray Painting and Powder Coating Code of Practice 2021
- Welding Processes Code of Practice 2021
- Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination Code of Practice 2021
The following codes of practice are approved under the Electrical Safety Act 2002:
- Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020—Electrical Equipment Rural Industry
- Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020—Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines
- Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020—Works
- Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2021—Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace
- Construction and Operation of Solar Farms Code of Practice 2024
No reviews are currently scheduled for the electrical safety codes; however, you can have a say about codes by submitting feedback for future reviews.
The following code of practice is approved under the Safety in Recreational Water Activities Act 2011:
- Recreational Diving, Recreational Technical Diving and Snorkelling Code of Practice 2024.
This code commenced on 1 August 2024 following a review of the former code. No review is scheduled; however, you can have a say on this code by submitting feedback for a future review.
Current consultations by WHSQ and ESO
Consultation by the Queensland Government
The Queensland Productivity Commission (the Commission) has commenced an inquiry into improving productivity in Queensland’s construction sector, delivering on a key election commitment.
The Commission’s first inquiry will review the factors driving productivity in Queensland’s construction sector and make recommendations for reform to improve productivity without compromising quality and safety outcomes. The Commission will investigate and report on conditions in the residential and non-residential construction sectors and examine policy and regulatory factors affecting productivity of this important industry.
Interested parties, including industry peak bodies, unions, construction businesses and regulatory bodies, are invited to provide initial input on the issues identified in the inquiry’s Terms of Reference via the Commission’s dedicated online portal.
On 31 July 2025 the Commission’s Interim Report was released. Further the Commission invites all stakeholders to provide feedback on the interim report.
View here: https://www.qpc.qld.gov.au/content/inquiries/construction-productivity.html
Other jurisdictions' consultations
Safe Work Australia
Safe Work Australia (SWA) is a national policy body representing the interests of the Commonwealth, states and territories, as well as workers and employers. They develop national work health and safety policy and strategy and model Work Health and Safety legislation and guidance.
Visit Safe Work Australia consultation hub for details of open SWA consultations.
Managing the risks of biological hazards at work
Consultation is currently open for feedback on the draft model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of biological hazards at work which provides practical guidance for employers on how to manage the risks of biological hazards at work.
The draft model Code is intended to apply to all workplaces covered by WHS laws where there is a risk to workers or others of exposure to one or more biological hazards.
Find out more about the draft model Code and consultation process.
Consultation closes at 11:59pm (AEST) on 4 September 2025.
Other ways you can get involved
In addition to being involved in consultation processes, you can get involved by:
- seeking to be a member on an Industry Sector Standing Committee
- seeking to be on a steering group for the development or review of a code of practice
- seeking to be a member on the Consultative Committee for Work-Related Fatalities and Serious Incidents.
Read more on the Work Health and Safety Board and committees and the Electrical Safety Board and committees.
Contact us
You can contact us for more information or to provide feedback on the work health and safety framework at whspolicy@oir.qld.gov.au and on the electrical safety framework at espolicy@oir.qld.gov.au
We will review any feedback provided and, where appropriate, consider during future reviews.