Executive Director's update

I hope everybody had an enjoyable and safe Christmas holiday.

Last year ended on a high note when health and safety took centre stage in October 2008 during Safe Work Australia Week (SWAW). Held from 19 to 25 October, SWAW encouraged all Queenslanders to get involved in raising the profile of health and safety in the workplace.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) held 120 events throughout the state. The Women in Health and Safety Luncheon, held at Suncorp Stadium on 21 October, attracted 239 people to listen to Professor Kerryn Phelps’ presentation on bringing the health and safety message home. Dr John Tickell spoke to 192 people at the Australia Zoo Industry Breakfast on 22 October about putting the 'H' back in 'OHS'. Queenslanders from the city to regional areas got involved in local activities, clearly demonstrating an increased commitment to workplace health and safety throughout the state.

I thank everyone who participated in the week’s activities. In particular, I would like to thank the Safety Partners who offered their time to arrange activities for their own workplaces and local communities. I would also like to recognise the Safety Ambassadors who offered their time voluntarily to promote the message of health and safety throughout, and leading up to, the week.

So, what is happening in 2009? At the end of April, Homecomings will once again air on television and radio, continuing the awareness raising campaign which began in May of last year. Plans will have begun for SWAW 2009, which will run from 25 to 31 October this year. We hope to organise an even bigger and better range of activities to help educate the community about workplace health and safety.

The seven Industry Action Plans 2008-10, addressing five high priority and two medium priority Queensland sectors, are entering their second year of implementation in 2009.

This year’s Industry Action Plan activities build on last year’s work with industry and stakeholders. There is a full calendar of projects and events running throughout 2009. Some specific activities include a transport and storage safety summit, practical solutions development in the rural industry, education and awareness programs in the construction industry, fostering robust networks within key sub-sectors in the health and community services industry, and increasing the capacity of small businesses in the manufacturing industry to reduce musculoskeletal disorders.

From a regulatory perspective, Queensland’s regulations and codes of practice continue to support our community awareness campaigns by setting higher safety standards. The new Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 (the Regulation) and the Traffic Management for Construction or Maintenance Work – Code of Practice 2008 (the Code) will help improve the health and safety of Queensland’s workplaces.

The phased removal of the rural exemption over the next two years is also an important step forward, ensuring workers in the rural industry have the same protection under health and safety legislation as workers in all other industries.

WHSQ, in partnership with the Department of Main Roads, ran free information seminars on the new Code. These seminars were held in major metropolitan and regional centres across the state.

Thank you for your continued dedication to improving safety in Queensland workplaces, and WHSQ looks forward to working with you throughout 2009 to make them even safer.

Table of contents | National OHS harmonisation: Queensland's submission