Who are WHSQ inspectors?
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors may have experience in a variety of trades, and most will have tertiary qualifications in occupational health and safety-related disciplines.
The inspectors undertake inductions, on the job coaching, mentoring and training on a broad range of issues in the workplace including ergonomics, hazardous substances, construction issues and noise.
The training provides them with the underpinning skills and knowledge to allow them to undertake the Diploma of Government (Workplace Inspections).
The main areas of focus for inspectors include:
- high risk industries - manufacturing and construction
- work-related fatalities - falls from heights or electricity incidents
- occupational injury black spots - where evidenced based analysis reveals an occupation is over-represented in terms of severe injuries.
All inspectors may enter a workplace and exercise their powers while they are in the workplace. Inspectors also have the right to enter any place where:
- demolition work or asbestos removal work (prescribed activities) is being done by a person who holds a certificate for that work, and
- there is specified high risk plant, for example lifts, amusement devices, cooling towers, air conditioning units, escalators, LP gas cylinders
After entering the workplace the inspector has the power to:
- search any part of the place
- inspect, measure, test, photograph or film any part of the workplace or anything at the workplace
- take samples
- copy a document at the workplace
- make enquiries or conduct surveys to assess the degree of risk at the workplace or the standards of health and safety existing at a workplace
- inquire into the circumstances and probable causes of workplace incidents
- take any person, equipment or materials into the workplace to assist the inspector to exercise a power
- require a person to give reasonable help
- require a person to produce certain documents or ask other people to provide these documents, for example maintenance records kept by a mechanic contracted by an employer to do the work.
An inspector may seize:
- evidence of an offence against the Act
- a thing that has been used to commit an offence against the Act
- a dangerous place or thing
Most of the time inspectors carry out their role without the need to formally exercise their powers. However, their authority to use these powers is necessary, particularly when they are investigating incidents and intervening where there are dangerous work practices.
It is an offence to obstruct, threaten or interfere with an inspector who is exercising their powers under the Act.
Last updated December 23, 2005
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