Queensland Government Launches Statewide Campaign to Improve Workplace Safety
The Queensland Government has initiated a new safety campaign aimed at reducing fatalities and critical injuries in key industries, including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and social assistance.
The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by WorkSafe Queensland.
The Queensland Government has initiated a new safety campaign aimed at reducing fatalities and critical injuries in key industries, including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and social assistance. The campaign highlights that maintaining a safe work environment is a collective responsibility.
Last year, 39 workers in Queensland lost their lives due to accidents in the workplace. The financial cost of this was also consequential with over $6.8 million in court-imposed fines being issued to both individuals and businesses due to safety violations. This emphasises the real life consequences when workplace safety is neglected.
The campaign’s central message is clear: safety is everyone’s responsibility. Whether you are an employer, employee, or a health and safety representative, you play a crucial role in safeguarding the workplace. The campaign is targeted towards Queensland workers between the ages of 35-65, highlighting the need for vigilance in following safety procedures and best practice. It also addresses areas of concern around complacency in harassment, sexual harassment, PPE, and high risk manual taks.
A key part of the campaign is encouraging workers to report unsafe practices rather than risk injury. The government’s message is simple:
"If you see unsafe work practices, don’t risk it—report it."
To reinforce this commitment to safety, representatives from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) will conduct proactive safety audits across businesses from July to October. These audits aim to ensure that industries comply with health and safety standards, protecting the wellbeing of all workers.
By raising awareness and holding everyone accountable, the Queensland Government hopes to foster a culture of safety that will ultimately reduce workplace fatalities and injuries, ensuring that every worker returns home safely at the end of the day.
