Queensland organisations will share in over $500,000 in funding to implement innovative programs aimed at making the state’s workplaces safer and healthier. 

All of the organisations operate in high risk areas, such as transport, mining and construction.

The funding was provided under the government's High Risk Industry Work Health Funding Program which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of workers in identified high risk industries, including the:

  • building and construction industry
  • transport and storage industry
  • mining and resources industry and associated supply chain in rural and regional Queensland.

Workplace Health and Safety's Dr Simon Blackwood said the program was helping to improve worker health in Queensland.

“Through this funding, we will see businesses improve their safety and productivity by implementing best practice worker health and wellbeing initiatives,” Dr Blackwood said.

“We know that a healthy workplace is a productive workplace and we know that health and wellbeing can impact on performance and productivity.

“The research tells us that better worker health can lead to a reduction in workplace injury and illness, a significant reduction in sick leave absenteeism and reduced workers’ compensation claims.”

To be eligible for funding, projects had to address one or more of the risk factors of smoking, poor nutrition, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and overweight and obesity.