Queensland resources sector workers are set to participate in the biennial sector-wide Safety Reset during this National Safe Work Month.
Workers in the coal, minerals, and quarrying industries, as well as the petroleum, gas, and explosives industries, will be included in the Safety Resets.
Resources Minister Scott Stewart said safety in the resources industry is a collective responsibility for all.
“The most important thing to come out of any Queensland work site at the end of the day is our workers,” Minister Stewart stated.
“We need to remain vigilant, even when operations are running smoothly because complacency can lead to injury.”
Minister Stewart added that Safety Resets provide an essential opportunity for every worker to assess what practices need to be modified to ensure a safe workplace.
“We want people and workplaces to go back to basics which is why the focus of this year’s Safety Reset is to empower and support workers to recognise unsafe situations, stop work, and report the issue, that is; SEE STOP REPORT,” he continued.
According to the Queensland Government, previous Safety Resets have highlighted some workplace safety barriers such as:
- apprehension about repercussions if you speak up
- complex reporting procedures
- inadequate site inductions and safety training, and
- poor communication
“The Safety Reset program is vital to supporting a positive safely culture,” Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) CEO Mark Stone said.
“Everyone in the resources sector needs to know how to identify a hazard, and how to report it,” Stone stated.
Queensland held its first Safety Reset in 2019 following a tragic year involving six mine workers’ deaths in the workplace.
