WorkSafe Queensland issues health and safety exemptions for inflatables

The Office of Fair and Safe Work Queensland has granted a class exemption under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (section 684 of the WHS Regulation) for certain inflatable amusement devices from item and design registration and annual inspection by an engineer.

In a statement Office of Fair and Safe Work Queensland (WorkSafe Queensland) acting Deputy-General Simon Blackwood wrote "this exemption means:

• All inflatable amusement devices of less than three metres platform height are exempt from item or design registration, annual inspection and any additional requirements in part 5.2 of the WHS Regulation;
• Inflatable structures or devices (continuously blow) with a platform height' of between three and nine metres are able to have the annual inspection conducted by a competent person or a professional engineer; and
• For the purpose of this exemption, a competent person is a person who is determined by the regulator to be a competent person;

'Platform height' means the height of the highest part of an inflatable amusement device designed to support persons who use the inflatable amusement structure or device. The height is measured from the supporting ground to the top surface of the platform on the inflated, but unloaded, structure or device."

Blackwood added "it is intended that these exemptions will be retained until amendments to the relevant sections of the WHS Regulation can be made in the future."

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 forms part of national rollout of work law harmonisation by Queensland, NSW, the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, the Commonwealth and, from 1st January 2013, Tasmania and South Australia.

Further information on the class exemption will be published on the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website and can be viewed at www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.

For more information contact Brad Bick, Director Workplace and Electrical Safety Policy, WHSQ on 07 3234 1809.

Image included for illustrative purposes only.