Reducing risk and strengthening compliance on Brisbane construction sites

Understanding WHS responsibilities in Queensland

In Queensland the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) and associated regulations set clear duties for everyone on a construction site. The primary legal duty sits with the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), which includes principal contractors, head contractors and employers. PCBUs must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others affected by their work. This duty is not optional — it requires active management, documented controls and demonstrable evidence of implementation.

Workers and officers also have obligations. Officers (senior managers and directors) must exercise due diligence to ensure the PCBU complies with WHS duties, and workers must take reasonable care for their own safety and follow lawful instructions and training. In practice, this means supervision, training, consultation and enforcement are part of everyday site leadership.

Contractor compliance: meeting standards and demonstrating competence

Contractors on Brisbane sites must meet licencing, training and competency standards. Construction induction training (the “White Card”) is mandatory for persons entering high-risk construction zones, and specific high risk work (HRW) licences are required for plant operators, riggers and dogmen. Subcontractors should be audited for qualifications, insurances and safety history before engagement, with copies of licences and insurances retained on file.

Compliance also extends to documented systems. Contractors must provide Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) for high-risk construction work, maintain drug and alcohol policies where required, and participate in site inductions and toolbox talks. Evidence of ongoing competency — refresher training, licences up to date and logged maintenance records — reduces the risk of non-compliance and supports a defensible position if incidents occur.

Risk assessments and practical controls

Effective risk assessment is the foundation of compliance. Use a layered approach: identify hazards during planning and mobilisation, assess likelihood and consequence, and apply the hierarchy of controls — elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering, administrative controls and personal protective equipment. A good risk register is a living document that is updated after design changes, new plant arrival or following near-miss reports.

High-risk tasks demand particular attention. Working at heights, demolition, confined space entry, crane lifts and live electrical work require pre-start risk assessments, permit-to-work systems, and clearly defined exclusion zones. Dynamic risk assessments — the short, on-the-spot reviews workers perform before tasks — should be encouraged and recorded during toolbox talks or in daily briefings.

Principal contractor obligations and site leadership

The principal contractor has a central role in coordinating safety across multiple contractors. Obligations include preparing and enforcing a site-specific Safety Management Plan (SMP), ensuring SWMS are integrated and consistent across trades, and managing interfaces between contractors. Principal contractors must also ensure adequate resources for safety, including competent site supervisors, emergency response equipment and welfare facilities.

Consultation is legally required and practically essential. The principal contractor must consult with workers and health and safety representatives (HSRs) on significant decisions that affect health and safety. This involves genuine two-way discussion, timely information sharing and responding to concerns with corrective action. Where multiple PCBUs share duties, coordination arrangements should be documented to avoid ambiguity about who controls what risks.

Incident management and legal reporting

All incidents, near misses and hazards should be reported and investigated promptly. Queensland’s notifiable incident regime requires immediate notification to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland for incidents involving death, serious injury, or incidents that expose a person to a serious risk. The principal contractor must preserve the incident scene where possible, cooperate with inspectors and implement corrective actions from investigations.

Investigation outcomes should inform training updates, SWMS revisions and any changes to plant or sequence of work. A transparent, timely incident response reduces the likelihood of regulatory action and builds trust among workers and clients. It also feeds into continuous improvement, a key element of an effective WHS system.

Practical steps to ensure continuous compliance

Start projects with a compliance checklist that covers licences, insurances, SWMS, inductions, emergency procedures, plant certification and welfare. Conduct pre-mobilisation audits and site walkthroughs to confirm controls are in place. Daily pre-start briefings and regular toolbox talks help keep safety top of mind; ensure these are documented and that attendance is recorded.

Maintain a clear hierarchy of documentation: the project Safety Management Plan at the top, supported by SWMS, risk registers, training records and plant maintenance logs. Use digital tools to manage records and notifications — they make audits simpler and provide an accessible trail of evidence for regulators and clients.

Where internal capability is limited, independent review and auditing can close gaps. Engaging a local specialist can be particularly valuable for complex projects or where multiple contractors interact. For tailored site audits, planning and implementation support consider working with a Brisbane WHS Consultant like Stay Safe Consulting Brisbane to verify systems and provide pragmatic recommendations.

Embedding a culture of safety

Compliance is not only about meeting legal obligations; sustained safety performance depends on culture. Leaders must visibly prioritise safety, reward safe behaviours and hold people accountable for unsafe actions. Encourage worker participation in hazard identification and the development of practical controls — those closest to the work often know the most effective solutions.

Regular review cycles, refresher training and sharing lessons learned across projects turn compliance from a box-ticking exercise into a continuous improvement program. For the Brisbane construction industry, combining legal rigour with practical, site-level discipline ensures projects are delivered safely, on time and with reputations intact.