Published Wednesday, 18 April, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
LABOUR HIRE WORKERS THE FOCUS OF SAFETY CAMPAIGNS
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has launched two campaigns aimed at improving the safety of labour hire workers throughout the state.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said WHSQ has joined other Australian and New Zealand safety authorities in a campaign targeting the health and safety of labour hire workers in the food manufacturing industry.
WHSQ is focusing on the poultry and meat processing sector of the industry and, in addition, is conducting a complementary statewide campaign focusing on labour hire in the road and freight transport, concrete product manufacturing, road and bridge construction and health and community services industries.
Mr Mickel said that both campaigns are designed to improve the capability of labour hire agencies and host employers to jointly manage their occupational health and safety responsibilities.
“As part of the trans-Tasman campaign safety inspectors are visiting more than 200 workplaces in Australia and 20 in New Zealand to provide practical advice and assistance about safety requirements specific to the food industry,” Mr Mickel said.
“By the end of May 2007 WHSQ inspectors will have visited about 700 Queensland workplaces as part of the two complementary labour hire safety campaigns.”
Mr Mickel said the trans-Tasman campaign is another example of the states working together to harmonise key areas of workplace safety and workers’ compensation.
“Labour hire workers in the food and other industries are often at a higher risk of injury due to a lack of familiarity with the host workplace, inadequate induction and training and insufficient occupational health and safety representation and consultation.
“By working collaboratively with other jurisdictions and industry groups, we can continue to improve services and cut red tape for workers and employers, particularly for those operating in more than one state.
“Workplace safety authorities across the two nations have also developed consistent guidance material to help provide clarity for both the primary employer and host workplace in relation to their obligations in the labour hire arrangement.”
The guidance material includes a fact sheet and safety checklist and provides practical information on a range of issues including:
• hazard management and risk assessment systems tailored to labour hire agencies and host employers
• induction and task specific training
• appropriateness of pre-placement assessments for labour hire workers.
Two simple guides to help agencies and employers to better understand their health and safety obligations - Labour hire agencies: Managing the safety of on-hired workers and Host employers: Managing the safety of labour hire workers - are available free from WHSQ.
For more information or to obtain copies of the guides visit www.deir.qld.gov.au or call WHSQ on 1300 369 915.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 322 46784
18 April 2007
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said WHSQ has joined other Australian and New Zealand safety authorities in a campaign targeting the health and safety of labour hire workers in the food manufacturing industry.
WHSQ is focusing on the poultry and meat processing sector of the industry and, in addition, is conducting a complementary statewide campaign focusing on labour hire in the road and freight transport, concrete product manufacturing, road and bridge construction and health and community services industries.
Mr Mickel said that both campaigns are designed to improve the capability of labour hire agencies and host employers to jointly manage their occupational health and safety responsibilities.
“As part of the trans-Tasman campaign safety inspectors are visiting more than 200 workplaces in Australia and 20 in New Zealand to provide practical advice and assistance about safety requirements specific to the food industry,” Mr Mickel said.
“By the end of May 2007 WHSQ inspectors will have visited about 700 Queensland workplaces as part of the two complementary labour hire safety campaigns.”
Mr Mickel said the trans-Tasman campaign is another example of the states working together to harmonise key areas of workplace safety and workers’ compensation.
“Labour hire workers in the food and other industries are often at a higher risk of injury due to a lack of familiarity with the host workplace, inadequate induction and training and insufficient occupational health and safety representation and consultation.
“By working collaboratively with other jurisdictions and industry groups, we can continue to improve services and cut red tape for workers and employers, particularly for those operating in more than one state.
“Workplace safety authorities across the two nations have also developed consistent guidance material to help provide clarity for both the primary employer and host workplace in relation to their obligations in the labour hire arrangement.”
The guidance material includes a fact sheet and safety checklist and provides practical information on a range of issues including:
• hazard management and risk assessment systems tailored to labour hire agencies and host employers
• induction and task specific training
• appropriateness of pre-placement assessments for labour hire workers.
Two simple guides to help agencies and employers to better understand their health and safety obligations - Labour hire agencies: Managing the safety of on-hired workers and Host employers: Managing the safety of labour hire workers - are available free from WHSQ.
For more information or to obtain copies of the guides visit www.deir.qld.gov.au or call WHSQ on 1300 369 915.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 322 46784
18 April 2007