Changes to Queensland construction induction training

Under Queensland health and safety laws, anyone doing construction work in Queensland must have successfully completed a general OHS construction induction course for the industry before they start work in any construction activity. Construction activities include housing construction, civil construction, renovations, repairs, refurbishment, asbestos removal, carpentry, bricklaying, concreting, plumbing and roof, floor and wall tiling.

The current Queensland ‘blue card’ course - 30125QLD Course in General Safety Induction (Construction Industry) - expires on 30 June 2009 and will be replaced by the new nationally-agreed unit of competency - CPCCOHS1001A ‘Work safely in the construction industry’. As of 1 July 2009, only CPCCOHS1001A will meet the regulatory requirements for construction induction training in Queensland.

From this date, Queensland will also have a new-look construction induction card. The new card is similar to the existing blue card but is in the new nationally-agreed format. It is important to note that any person who holds an existing blue card is not required to undertake further training or replace their blue card as it will continue to be valid and recognised in Queensland and other states and territories.

This reform is the latest initiative of a larger program to harmonise occupational health and safety systems between states and territories, and is in addition to mutual recognition of the construction induction cards obtained in other states and territories.

Queensland recognises construction induction cards from all other states (excluding Tasmania) - it does not recognise ACT and NT construction induction cards. This means cards from these other states are accepted as being equivalent to the Queensland construction induction card. Workers holding these cards are not required to undertake construction induction training in Queensland and are not required to obtain a Queensland construction induction card. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors will regard these cards as evidence of meeting the requirements for general construction induction training for construction work under Queensland law.