Workplace Health & Safety

Tourism operators are required to be familiar with current workplace health and safety standards and regulations, and ensure that they are implemented in their workplace. These standards are in place to provide a safe work environment for employees and the delivery of a safe product or service to the customer.

The Workplace Health and Safety Diagnostic, will help you create and maintain a better and compliant work environment.

For further information on visitor safety, including initiatives and advice on safety issues visit Department of Industry Relations, Workplace Health & Safety.

To ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable stay, it is important for tourism operators to have a duty of care to their visitors. Operators can achieve this by providing visitors with a range of helpful tips on enjoying a safe holiday in Queensland. Key tips include:

• read and obey signs, for example, at waterways or on roads
• drive on the left hand side of the road and obey the speed limit
• always wear your seatbelt
• don’t drink alcohol and drive
• when at the beach, swim between the flags
• be aware of driving long distances and fatigue - plan journeys and share driving
• check weather conditions
• the sun is strong in Australia - drink plenty of water regularly and protect your skin from burning. Seek shade when outside, cover up with clothing and wear a sun protective hat, sunglasses and SPF 30+ sunscreen
• before you light a campfire, check that fires are not banned in the area
• campfires should be extinguished by using water - not sand or dirt
• tell people of your plans if travelling alone (friends, accommodation provider, police)
• use accredited Visitor Information Centres (yellow and blue i signs) for local and regional information
• be aware of the unique hazards in your local area/region (eg Irukandji marine stingers or crocodiles, unique road conditions, beach safety)
• dial 000 in the event of an emergency