'Black spots' targeted in drive to improve health and safety

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is using a method developed by road safety authorities to identify occupational 'black spots' in its ongoing drive to reduce work-related injury and disease.

The black spot method identifies occupations that have the highest number of severe injuries, and is used by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland to determine target areas for intervention.

The black spot method forms a key part of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland's overall strategic plan for improving health and safety in Queensland.

In line with national priorities, the strategic plan identifies five priority industries for intervention—construction, manufacturing, transport and storage, health and community services and the rural sector.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has used black spot analysis to identify the main type of injury in each industry, and the specific sectors and occupations where most severe injuries occur.

The top occupational black spots in the five priority industries are*:

construction–construction assistants (e.g. bricklayer's assistant, builder's labourer)
manufacturing–meatworks labourers
transport and storage–heavy truck drivers
health and community services–registered nurses
rural–general farm hands.

*Based on black spot analysis data for 2000–01 to 2003–04.