New national construction induction card and training requirements

From 1 July 2009, Queensland introduced a new-look construction induction card. Formally known as the 'blue card', the new general safety induction card transitions the state to the nationally agreed format that is referred to as the 'construction induction card'.

Under Queensland workplace health and safety laws, any person performing construction work in Queensland must have successfully completed a construction induction course for the industry before they start work in any construction activity. Construction activities include housing and 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card' course (30125QLD Course in General Safety Induction (Construction Industry)) expired on 30 June 2009 and has been replaced by the new nationally agreed unit of competency — CPCCOHS1001A 'Work safely in the construction industry'. From 1 July 2009, only CPCCOHS1001A meets the regulatory requirements for construction induction training in Queensland.

Existing card holders don’t need to do anything. Any person who holds an existing blue card is not required to undertake further training or replace their blue cards as they will continue to be valid and recognised in Queensland and other states and territories.

Queensland recognises construction induction cards from most other states. 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.

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.