Work health and safety and electrical safety prosecutions
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland actively enforces the law. This includes using enforceable undertakings as a compliance and enforcement tool.
Historically, we also prosecuted alleged offenders and actively drew public attention to individuals and organisations it successfully prosecuted for breaching the legislation.
A request to bring a prosecution for a category 1 or 2 offence under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 has been extended to up to 18 months after the act or omission. To learn more about other recent changes to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 by the Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024.
Prosecuting obligation holders aims to provide a powerful deterrent to others. It draws attention to the consequences of workplace health and safety violations and the importance of healthy, safer workplaces.
Support
The Consultative committee for work-related fatalities and serious incidents was established to ensure there is an ongoing consultative forum for injured workers and families affected by a workplace death, illness or serious incident.
Learn more about what help is available if someone dies at work.
These resources are under review and may no longer reflect legislative obligations. Further changes for HSRs commenced on 29 July 2024.
From 29 July 2024, the following changes will apply:
- The timeframe for HSRs to undergo initial training will change from 3 months to 28 days.
- The requirement for HSRs to complete refresher training will change from every 3 years to every year.
- Assistance can be provided to HSRs by a ‘suitable entity’.
- Negotiations about the number and composition of work groups must be completed within 14 days after a request is made by a worker to elect a HSR.