Workplace Health and Safety Queensland will visit every medium sized business in Queensland in 2010 and 2011 to check their compliance with the “Workplace Health & Safety Act 1995”.

A medium sized business is one where the declared wages to WorkCover Queensland during the 2008-2009 financial year was between $1 million and $10 million. Every medium sized business in Queensland will be inspected regardless of previous contact with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. While medium sized businesses employ about 1 in 5 of Queensland’s workforce; they account for over 1 in 3 workers' compensation claims lodged every year.

The audit program will be conducted in two stages. The first stage will commence in March 2010. Half of Queensland's medium sized businesses will receive a letter advising them of the initiative. Medium sized businesses in the second stage will receive a letter later in 2010 advising them of the audit. Businesses will be offered a free voluntary advisory session to identify workplace health and safety issues and develop better safety practices before the inspections take place. The inspections will be enforceable.

The advisory session focuses on safety systems to prevent workplace injuries. Key safety principles are explained and tools and techniques are provided to help businesses develop safe work practices. It is also an opportunity to learn more about what will happen during the inspection.

The inspection will focus on assessing the effectiveness of your health and safety systems, and identifying opportunities for improvement. Inspectors will draw on their enforcement options under workplace health and safety legislation to address any health and safety issues identified.

More information about the inspections, including the audit checklists being used by the inspectors will be available on the WHSQ website from March 2010. Inspectors will write prohibition or improvement notices where breaches or unsafe practices, plant and equipment is detected.  This can cause business interruption and even shut down of your business.

Please visit the link below page for more information on the initiative including how to prepare for the inspection or call the Workplace Health and Safety Infoline on
1300 369 915.

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/publications/safe/feb10/msbi/index.htm

CVIAQ wishes to thank Worklaw Health & Safety Pty Ltd for providing the information in this article.