Topics
The following information is published to provide industry with an overview of the changes to work health and safety laws.
Transitional provisions
Transitional provisions are included to smooth the transition to the new requirements which will require some action by business operators in order to comply.
Duties
Duties for person conducting a business or undertaking, officers, workers and principal contractor.
Reasonably practicable (Safe Work Australia)
Guidance on the interpretation and application of the term 'reasonably practicable'.
Consultation
Representation and participation, workgroups and health and safety representatives.
Work health and safety incident notification
Has an injury, illness or dangerous incident occurred at your workplace? If so, you may be legally required to notify Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) about what happened.
Licensing and registrations
Authorisations for high risk work, earthmoving and particular cranes, asbestos removal work, demolition, construction induction, registration of plant and plant design.
Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN)
Health and safety representatives (HSRs) can issue a provisional improvement notice (PIN) for an issue affecting the workgroup they represent.
Penalties
There are three categories of offences for failing to comply with a health and safety duty under the new laws, depending on the degree of seriousness or culpability involved.
Inspector powers
What's new - powers and notices.
Right of entry
Authorised representatives of employee organisations have powers to enter workplaces.
General risk and workplace management
Managing risks, general workplace management, training, information and instruction, general working environment, first aid, emergency plans, personal protective equipment, remote and isolated work, managing risk from contaminants, hazardous atmospheres, storage and ignition sources and falling objects.
Hazardous work
Noise, hazardous manual tasks, confined spaces, falls, high risk work, demolition and diving work.
Plant and structures
Plant and structures, registrable plant and plant design.
Construction work
What is construction work, principal contactor, safe work method statement and general induction training.
Hazardous chemicals
Hazardous chemicals and lead.
Asbestos
Identification, registers, notification, air monitoring and licensing.
Major hazard facilities
Repeal of the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001.
Review of decisions (PDF, 133 kB)
Certain decisions made by workplace health and safety inspectors and the workplace health and safety regulator can be reviewed under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
National compliance and enforcement policy
Nationally consistent approach to compliance and enforcement.
Workplace Health and Safety Officer (WHSOs)
As from 1 January 2012, the current legislative requirement for employers to appoint WHSOs will cease in Queensland.
Health and safety representatives (HSRs)
HSR appointment, election, powers and training.
Safety in Recreational Water Activities Act 2011
Legal duties that apply to protect the public from harm when they take part in recreational water activities.
Volunteers
How the new laws apply to volunteers.
Public events (PDF, 106 kB)
Safety at public events is the responsibility of the individual or group conducting the event.
Not-for-profit organisations (PDF, 109 kB)
Not-for-profit-organisations and volunteer associations.
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