QUEENSLAND TO IMPLEMENT SWING STAGE SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
Published Thursday, 25 September, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel today announced that an independent reference group, set up after two deaths on a Gold Coast building site in June, has endorsed recommendations to improve the safety of swing stage scaffolding.
Mr Mickel said the recommendations will now be implemented by the Queensland Government.
Swing stage scaffolding consists of suspended work platforms, such as those used by window cleaners, that allow work to be done on a building’s exterior.
The reference group, which oversaw preparation of the safety report, included representatives from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), BLF, CFMEU, Master Builders Association of Queensland and the Scaffolding Association, Queensland.
Mr Mickel said the government asked the reference group to commission the report immediately after two workers fell to their deaths when swing stage scaffolding failed.
“The Gold Coast incident in which two workers lost their lives is still being investigated but it devastated families, friends and workmates,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Queensland Government is committed to improving swing stage scaffold work so we can prevent this happening in the future,” he said.
Mr Mickel said the report made a number of recommendations for improving the safety of swing stage scaffold design, installation and use.
However, he said it was important to note that the report supported Queensland’s current legislation but outlined a number of recommendations that could be implemented over and above the current safety requirements to further enhance safety.
A new safety alert for swing stage scaffolding, and the independent report, is on the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations’ web site at www.deir.qld.gov.au.
A summary of the independent report follows this page.
Media contact: Jane Rowe 3237 1125
Mr Mickel said the recommendations will now be implemented by the Queensland Government.
Swing stage scaffolding consists of suspended work platforms, such as those used by window cleaners, that allow work to be done on a building’s exterior.
The reference group, which oversaw preparation of the safety report, included representatives from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), BLF, CFMEU, Master Builders Association of Queensland and the Scaffolding Association, Queensland.
Mr Mickel said the government asked the reference group to commission the report immediately after two workers fell to their deaths when swing stage scaffolding failed.
“The Gold Coast incident in which two workers lost their lives is still being investigated but it devastated families, friends and workmates,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Queensland Government is committed to improving swing stage scaffold work so we can prevent this happening in the future,” he said.
Mr Mickel said the report made a number of recommendations for improving the safety of swing stage scaffold design, installation and use.
However, he said it was important to note that the report supported Queensland’s current legislation but outlined a number of recommendations that could be implemented over and above the current safety requirements to further enhance safety.
A new safety alert for swing stage scaffolding, and the independent report, is on the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations’ web site at www.deir.qld.gov.au.
A summary of the independent report follows this page.
Media contact: Jane Rowe 3237 1125