5.2 Workplace Health and Safety
5.2.1 Workplace Health and Safety Management Systems
5.2.2 Workers’ Compensation Insurance
The Queensland Government attaches a very high priority to the improvement of workplace health and safety for participants in the building and construction industry. It is imperative that workplace health and safety management is integral to the culture of the industry.
Service providers are required to implement comprehensive management systems, ensuring a safe working environment, in compliance with existing workplace health and safety legislation.
Overall control of the management of workplace health and safety on government projects and sites, is the responsibility of the principal contractor as defined in the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 KB). Principal contractors, in meeting their obligations under this Act, will:
- take all practical steps to ensure their service providers and workers engaged in work subject to the contract comply with all relevant legislation;
- maintain a documented workplace health and safety management plan for each project;
- meet performance standards in nominated core areas;
- implement a monitoring and self-assessment regime; and
- ensure on-site workplace health and safety provisions are met.
5.2.1 Workplace Health and Safety Management Systems
Service providers are required to ensure that quality workplace health and safety management systems are implemented and maintained to ensure a high standard of performance.
Implementation of a managed and systematic approach to health and safety will lead to definition of roles, duties and responsibilities for all parties involved on the project and will drive continuous improvement of individual and industry performance.
5.2.2 Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Queensland WorkCover legislation provides benefits for workers who are injured in their employment and protection for employers. Service providers are to ensure all applicable requirements of this legislation are met, including the payment of any premiums or charges levied in respect of all workers and the provision of rehabilitation for injured workers.
No party shall require or compel any party, either directly or indirectly, to pay workers’ compensation benefits above the statutory obligation to do so under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 and/or registered industrial agreements.
Last updated June 7, 2005
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