Smart, safe solutions for small business: Free workplace health and safety advisory service

Small businesses with 10 or fewer employees now have access to a free advisory program to help them meet their workplace health and safety obligations, through Workplace Health and Safety Queensland's Small Business Program.

The Small Business Program provides small business operators with free guidance, advice and information on how to keep their workplaces safe and healthy.

Program Coordinator Jill Wright said the program was developed in response to demand from small businesses.

'During our ongoing field work we have found a great demand from small businesses wanting assistance with workplace health and safety issues,' Ms Wright said.

'We have listened to small business' needs and the Small Business Program is the result—a free program that can provide you with simple, practical solutions to the safety issues in your business.'

Small businesses don't always have the same amount of time and resources to dedicate to workplace health and safety as larger companies. However, injury and illness can have an even greater impact on small businesses, which may not be as able to cope with the financial cost or staff absences.

'The Small Business Program will help address these issues by equipping small businesses with the information and tools they need to stay on top of workplace health and safety,' she said.

A dedicated team of advisors is available to provide free workplace consultations to small businesses with 10 or fewer employees on how to comply with workplace health and safety legislation.

Advisors work with small businesses to help them address any safety risks at their workplace, and to help owners understand how to maintain a safe and healthy workplace.

Advisors cover the regions of North Queensland , Central Queensland , Wide Bay and the Sunshine Coast, South West Queensland, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

The program's primary focus in the first year is the manufacturing, hospitality and entertainment, retail and wholesale, and transport and storage industries.

To request a free workplace consultation or find out more about the Small Business Program's services check workplace health and safety workplace consultations or phone 1800 177 717.