The recent enactment of new health and safety laws marks a significant milestone in bolstering worker protection and representation in Queensland.
These laws are a result of recommendations from the Review of Queensland’s Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the national 2018 Review of the Model Work Health and Safety Laws.
The new laws introduce pivotal reforms aimed at empowering Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs).
Notable changes include granting HSRs the autonomy to select their training provider and ensuring full remuneration for training attendance.
Additionally, HSRs now possess clarified authority to direct businesses to cease unsafe work and access pertinent information relevant to their workgroups.
Worker consultation processes have been improved, emphasising the necessity to engage with workers during the formation of workgroups.
Furthermore, efficient dispute resolution mechanisms have been introduced to accelerate conflict resolution in workplaces.
A notable policy change prohibits businesses from insuring against penalties for safety law breaches — this emphasises accountability and underscores the seriousness of safety breaches.
The new laws clarify and extend the rights of entry permit holders, simplify dispute resolution procedures, and improve court efficiency by moving certain matters from the Magistrates Court to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.
Minister for Industrial Relations Grace Grace said: “Our laws will continue to ensure that our workers are coming home safe by ensuring that HSRs and entry permit holders are informed and empowered to perform their roles, that workers and businesses are engaging in consultation, and that issues are being resolved with certainty and in a timely fashion.”
For further details on these reforms and their implications, visit here.
