March 12, 2010Half of Queensland’s medium-sized businesses will be put under the spotlight this month as part of the Bligh Government’s education and audit campaign to help keep workers safe from workplace injury and death.
Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick says from March, the government will start an inspection program targeting each of the 7,750 medium-sized businesses in Queensland to ensure they have effective systems in place to manage workplace health and safety.
"Medium-sized businesses employ about one in five of our state's workforce, however they account for about one in three workers' compensation claims lodged every year," Dick says.
"The only way we can tackle the high number of workplace injuries and fatalities that occur in Queensland each year is to target the areas of largest concern," he says.
All medium-sized businesses will also be offered a free safety advisory session to help identify any issues before the inspections begin, according to Dick.
"These advisory session s will allow Queensland's medium-sized businesses to work with us to discuss workplace health and safety issues, identify problem areas and develop better safety practices," he says.
"Businesses that take advantage of the offer will be given time to apply what they have learnt and make improvements to their safety systems, if needed, before being inspected. Those businesses that do not attend a voluntary advisory session may be inspected at any time."
Due to the high number of medium-sized businesses involved in manufacturing, construction and retail, there is reportedly a high incidence of manual task injuries in Queensland.
"This initiative is in response to the high percentage of workers' compensation claims lodged by medium-sized businesses with annual payrolls of between $1 million and $10 million each year," Dick says.
Inspection and advisory sessions will be conducted over the next 12 months.
Half of the state’s medium-sized businesses should be expecting a visit in the coming weeks, while the other half will be targeted in September.
