This is a joint WorkCover Queensland and WHSQ project aimed specifically at employers with capped workers' compensation premiums. It provides case managed assistance on injury prevention and management.

Assistance is available for businesses identified by WorkCover Queensland.

Targeted areas  
Statewide

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 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, 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?
Visit WHSQ's PErforM web site for more information about the program and to register for a free train-the-trainer workshop.

This project is part of the five year Asbestos Work Health and Safety Plan 2011-16. It targets asbestos risk management within education facilities. The first phase focuses on reducing the risk of exposure at Queensland Government schools and TAFEs from asbestos containing material removal and maintenance tasks. It targets the management and supervision of sub-contractors; access to asbestos registers; adequacy of safe work method documentation; and due diligence by contractors for controlling risks associated with the disturbance of asbestos containing materials.

WHSQ will contact schools and TAFEs that will be inspected.

Targeted areas
Statewide

What can my business do to prepare?
Follow the asbestos policy and procedures developed by the Department of Education and Training and the workplace health and safety legislation when undertaking work involving the removal and maintenance of asbestos containing materials:

• Management of Asbestos Containing Material in DET Facilities (non Queensland Government link)
• Asbestos Management Plan (non Queensland Government link)

This campaign has been developed to target construction activities that are a consistent source of serious injuries and fatalities. The campaign will include a compliance component (to enforce existing standards) and an information gathering component (to report back to industry and inform future campaigns).

Targeted areas
Statewide

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

What can my business do to prepare?
Information, including the assessment tool (PDF, 83 kB) being used by inspectors, is available on the WHSQ website.

Construction inspectors will audit falls from height risks. Standardised checklists will be used to collect information and improve uniformity. The area which will be targeted is falls from height.

Targeted areas
Statewide

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

What can my business do to prepare?
The audit tool (PDF, 141 kB) is available on the WHSQ website.

Construction inspectors will audit housekeeping. Standardised checklists will be used to collect information. The areas which will be targeted are falls at the same level and musculoskeletal disorders.

Targeted areas
Statewide

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

What can my business do to prepare?
The audit tool (PDF, 101 kB) is available on the WHSQ website.

WHSQ is available to help the construction industry improve management of health and safety by attending Toolbox Talks or safety committee meetings.

Assistance is available by contacting WHSQ.

Targeted areas
Brisbane South Gold Coast

What can my business do to prepare?
Identify any areas where WHSQ could help your business.

This project aims to reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries at construction workplaces. The focus is on manual tasks; slips, trips and falls; contractor consultation procedures; and the provision of industry specific information. Audits will target load handling tasks at point of delivery, movement on site, and storage.

Targeted areas
Statewide

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

What can my business do to prepare?
Identify the hazardous load handling tasks at your workplace. Go to the WHSQ Manual Tasks webpage for information about risk management.

This project focuses on the risks to people working on roadworks and related infrastructure.

Targeted areas
Central Queensland Wide Bay

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

Audits to assess and address the long-term risk to health from respirable silica to workers in construction-related industries.

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

Targeted areas
Statewide

What can my business do to prepare?
Review silica management documentation:

• Silica and the lung (PDF, 436 kB)
• Silica - Identifying and managing crystalline silica dust exposure (PDF, 388 kB)

Construction inspectors will audit risks associated with working around mobile plant. Standardised checklists will be used to collect information and improve uniformity. The area which will be targeted is vehicles.

Targeted areas
Statewide

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

What can my business do to prepare?
The audit tool (PDF, 101 kB) is available on the WHSQ website.

This project is part of the five year Asbestos Work Health and Safety Plan 2011-16. It targets asbestos risk management within education facilities. The first phase focuses on reducing the risk of exposure at Queensland Government schools and TAFEs from asbestos containing material removal and maintenance tasks. It targets the management and supervision of sub-contractors; access to asbestos registers; adequacy of safe work method documentation; and due diligence by contractors for controlling risks associated with the disturbance of asbestos containing materials.

WHSQ will contact schools and TAFEs that will be inspected.

Targeted areas
Statewide

What can my business do to prepare?
Follow the asbestos policy and procedures developed by the Department of Education and Training and the Workplace Health and Safety Legislation when undertaking work involving the removal and maintenance of asbestos containing materials:

• Management of Asbestos Containing Material in DET Facilities (non Queensland Government link)
• Asbestos Management Plan (non Queensland Government link)

Inspectors will audit risks associated with manual tasks, traffic management and slips, trips and falls. Standardised checklists will be used to collect information and improve uniformity.

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

Targeted areas
Statewide

What can my business do to prepare?
Identify the hazardous load handling tasks at your workplace. See the WHSQ manual tasks webpage for information about risk management.

The risk of legionellosis arising from poor control of legionella bacteria within cooling water systems will be addressed as part of an ongoing focus on industry compliance with standards for the management of legionella risk. The following risk factors will be targeted: stagnant water; nutrient availability; poor water quality; and deficiencies in the cooling tower.

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

Targeted areas
Statewide

What can my business do to prepare?
Manage the risk of legionella in cooling water systems by following the Guide to legionella control in cooling water systems, including cooling towers.

Inspectors will engage with industry to proactively identify mechanisms to reduce musculoskeletal risks, with a particular focus on knife sharpening programs.

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be engaged with.

Targeted areas
Statewide

What can my business do to prepare?
Identify the hazardous tasks at your workplace. Go to the WHSQ webpage for information about risk management for hazards within the meat industry.

This campaign is designed to reduce the risk of injury to workers within the felling, transport and milling operations of the timber industry in the Central Queensland and Wide Bay region, with a particular focus on manual task injuries. This campaign will assist in building the industries' capacity to comply with relevant OHS obligations and reduce severe and long term injuries to workers.

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

Targeted areas
Central Queensland Wide Bay

What can my business do to prepare?
Refer to your specific industry codes of practice and carryout the self assessment available from Timber Queensland (non Queensland Government link). Review your systems of work to ensure risks are being managed.

Audits of amusement devices at agricultural shows, small and large festivals, corporate functions, schools.

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

Targeted areas
Statewide

What can my business do to prepare?
To prepare ensure adequate and up-to-date documentation is kept and safe rider restraint systems, electrical safety, adequate crowd control systems, and safe operational procedures are in place.

Over the past few crush seasons there has been a number of high risk incidents on the cane rail network in the Mackay/Whitsunday area. In this area there are five sugar mills, processing around 40 per cent of the cane in Queensland. The campaign aims to improve safety for workers and others who are affected by activities on the cane rail network.

Activities such as loading, railing and delivering to the mills will be the major focus.

Key industry associations representing sugar growing, harvesting and processing from Proserpine to Maryborough will be invited to be involved in the campaign.

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

Targeted areas
Central Queensland and Wide Bay

Targeted industries
Rural
Agriculture
Sugar Cane
Rail

What can my business do to prepare?
To help prepare for the compulsory inspection, a free voluntary advisory session with a WHSQ field officer is available. At the advisory session you will be able to discuss your workplace health and safety issues and get some advice on how to address them before the inspection.

If you are involved in loading, railing and delivering cane on the rail transport, you should refer to the specific industry codes of practice available through your industry association. Review your systems of work to ensure risks are being managed.

This intervention aims to reduce the risk of injury to workers in the Bundaberg and Bowen fruit and vegetable industry. The focus is on labour hire organisations, producers and contractors to the industry. This arises from a focus on the Bundaberg fruit and vegetable growing area by the Workplace Rights Ombudsman. The Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is involved in the project. Producers have been advised of the project through their industry association and through public meetings.

WHSQ will contact businesses in the Bundaberg area that will be inspected. Businesses in the Bowen area interested in receiving assistance should contact WHSQ.

Targeted areas
Bundaberg and Bowen

Targeted industry
Rural
Agriculture
Horticulture
Labour Hire
Agricultural Contractors

What can my business do to prepare?
Producers: Get in touch with your industry association and discuss your regulatory requirements regarding amenities and chemical management and your general obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.

Labour hire organisations: Get a good understanding of your obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 particularly regarding placement into rural workplaces.

Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (non Queensland Government link) can also provide further information.

This project will increase awareness of musculoskeletal disorder injuries in the fruit and vegetable growing sector. Farmsafe Queensland (non Queensland Government link) will undertake assessments of large growers and workshops will be offered in the main growing regions of the Granite Belt, Lockyer Valley, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Bowen and Atherton.

Any businesses interested in participating should contact either Farmsafe Queensland (non Queensland Government link) or WHSQ.

Targeted areas
Statewide

What can my business do to prepare?
Review work procedures in packing sheds and in the fields. Contact WHSQ to arrange for a visit by a Rural Inspector to discuss hazardous manual tasks and the development of safe work procedures.

This project will improve quad bike safety by increasing understanding and improving management and practices. Quad bike users and quad bike and accessory points of sale will be targeted. The project focuses on equipment selection and use; riding competence and practices; personal protective equipment; and safe systems of work.

Businesses interested in participating in the project can contact WHSQ or Farmsafe Queensland (non Queensland Government link).

Targeted areas
Statewide

This project seeks to reduce the number of incidents involving older workers working on rural mobile plant (in particular quad bikes and tractors). It will increase the awareness of older workers and build their capacity, and will increase the awareness of machinery manufacturers of design elements.

Machinery manufacturers will be contacted by WHSQ. Older workers interested in participating in workshops should contact WHSQ.

Targeted areas
Statewide

Over the past few crush seasons there has been a number of high risk incidents on the cane rail network in the Mackay/Whitsunday area. In this area there are five sugar mills, processing around 40 per cent of the cane in Queensland. The campaign aims to improve safety for workers and others who are affected by activities on the cane rail network.

Activities such as loading, railing and delivering to the mills will be the major focus.

Key industry associations representing sugar growing, harvesting and processing from Proserpine to Maryborough will be invited to be involved in the campaign.

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

Targeted areas
Central Queensland and Wide Bay

Targeted industries
Rural
Agriculture
Sugar Cane
Rail

What can my business do to prepare?
To help prepare for the compulsory inspection, a free voluntary advisory session with a WHSQ field officer is available.  At the advisory session you will be able to discuss your workplace health and safety issues and get some advice on how to address them before the inspection.

If you are involved in loading, railing and delivering cane on the rail transport, you should refer to the specific industry codes of practice available through your industry association. Review your systems of work to ensure risks are being managed.

This project will raise awareness amongst truck drivers and transport operators of the risks associated with the equipment used to secure loads on trucks. There will be a focus on gates, curtains, fixed lever over-centre load tensioners (dogs) and lever extension bars (cheater bars).

WHSQ will contact businesses that will be inspected.

Targeted areas
Statewide

What can my business do to prepare?
Identify current health and safety practices and procedures for securing loads on trucks. Refer to WHSQ's Transport industry webpage for information.

Regional transport networks will be established for depot managers and health and safety professionals to facilitate the sharing and promotion of health and safety innovations.

Contact WHSQ to find out about a network in your local area.

Targeted areas
Statewide