Quick answer: Queensland's WHS Regulation requires plant that is not in use to be left in a state that does not create a risk to anyone (section 207), and any workplace where construction work is carried out to be secured from unauthorised access, so far as is reasonably practicable (section 298). A safe shutdown means isolating plant to suit its hazards, securing the site, preparing for storms and agreeing who controls the site while you're closed. A safe restart means a documented site check, the right level of inspection or re-commissioning for each item of plant, and a briefing for workers before work ramps back up.
Why the Christmas break is a higher-risk window
For many construction, manufacturing and workshop businesses, the end of the year brings two risky periods close together. The first is the wind-down, when crews push to finish jobs before the break and fatigue builds after a long year. The second is the restart in January, when workers return after weeks away, plant that hasn't run for a while is powered back up, and new or casual staff may be starting at the same time.
In Queensland, the break also falls in storm and cyclone season. A site left unattended for two or three weeks may be hit by severe weather before anyone comes back to check it. School holidays add another risk: unattended sites and yards can attract children and teenagers looking for somewhere to explore.
Shutting down plant: what the law expects
Section 207 of the WHS Regulation requires the person with management or control of plant to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that plant not in use is left in a state that does not create a risk to the health or safety of any person. The duty doesn't stop when the workers go home.
What that looks like depends on the plant. The right isolation arrangement comes from the plant's hazards: what energy it holds, whether it could start, move or release energy unexpectedly, and who could get near it while you're closed. A bench grinder unplugged in a locked workshop is a very different risk from a hydraulic press, a conveyor on an automatic control system or an item of mobile plant parked on an open site.
The Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021 gives practical examples, including releasing stored energy, lowering parts that would otherwise come down under gravity, and supporting plant so it can't topple. Where plant could be energised or move unexpectedly, the Code points to isolating it from its energy sources, using lock-out and tag-out, and fitting physical stops. It describes lock-out as the most effective isolation method and notes that a tag on its own provides information, not isolation.
For mobile plant, the Code's example of a forklift left unattended is to park it on a firm, level surface with the brake applied, the motor off and the key removed. If guards have been removed for end-of-year maintenance, make sure they are back in place before anyone signs off. Our machine guarding guide explains why guarding and isolation do different jobs.
Securing construction sites over the break
Section 298 of the WHS Regulation applies to any workplace where construction work is carried out, whatever the value of the work. The person with management or control of the workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that it is secured from unauthorised access. In deciding what is needed, they must consider the risks that unauthorised access would create, how likely it is, and how to isolate hazards within the site if unauthorised access can't be prevented. On a construction project, this person is usually the principal contractor, but the duty applies equally to smaller jobs.
Securing a site for a long break usually means checking fencing and gates, covering or barricading open excavations and penetrations, removing or locking away ladders, blocking access to scaffolds, and storing hazardous chemicals and gas cylinders securely.
Preparing for storms
Before you close, tie down or remove loose materials, sheeting and bins that could become airborne, and check temporary structures, edge protection and scaffold ties. Agree in advance who will check the site after a severe weather warning or event, and how they will get in safely.
After a storm, nobody should resume work until the site has been inspected and the inspection recorded: who checked, when, what damage was found and what was fixed or isolated before work restarted. Scaffolds need particular attention. Under section 225 of the WHS Regulation, a scaffold from which a person could fall more than 4 metres must be inspected by a competent person before use resumes after an incident that may affect its stability, such as a severe storm.
Contractors working while you're closed
Many businesses use the shutdown for maintenance, upgrades or cleaning, which means contractors on site while your own team is away. Before the break, agree in writing:
- Who controls the site and its access, including keys, gate codes, alarm arrangements and sign-in
- Who supervises the contractor's work and how often someone from your business will check in
- How emergencies will be handled, including first aid, who the contractor calls and how they will be reached if working alone
- How plant they work on will be isolated, whose locks go on, and how plant is handed back before restart
- Who they report incidents and hazards to while you're closed
If a contractor will be working alone, section 48 of the WHS Regulation requires the risks of remote or isolated work to be managed, including a way to get help in an emergency. Both businesses have duties for the same work, so they need to consult, cooperate and coordinate. Our guide to engaging contractors and shared WHS duties covers how to set that up.
Pre-shutdown checklist
- Each item of plant isolated to suit its hazards, with lock-out where it could start, move or release energy
- Stored energy released and raised loads lowered or supported
- Guards replaced after any end-of-year maintenance
- Mobile plant parked on firm, level ground, brakes on, keys removed and stored securely
- Fencing and gates checked, locked and signed with an after-hours contact number
- Excavations, penetrations and edges covered or barricaded; ladders removed and scaffold access blocked
- Loose materials, sheeting and bins secured or removed ahead of storms
- Hazardous chemicals and gas cylinders stored and secured
- Contractor access, supervision and emergency arrangements agreed in writing
- A named person responsible for checking the site after severe weather
Restarting in January
The restart needs as much planning as the shutdown. Start with a walk-through before anyone powers up, looking for storm damage, water near electrical equipment, vermin in switchboards and signs of unauthorised entry. Our electrical safety audit checklist covers what to look for in switchboards and electrical equipment.
Then decide what level of checking each item of plant needs. For most plant, routine pre-start inspections in line with the manufacturer's instructions will be enough: guards in place, emergency stops working, no visible damage or leaks. Section 213 of the WHS Regulation requires plant to be maintained and inspected by a competent person, following the manufacturer's recommendations where there are any.
Formal re-commissioning is a step further. The Plant Code says plant used after an extended period of storage should be re-commissioned with the same level of testing and inspection as when it was first commissioned. Whether a break counts as extended storage depends on the plant, the manufacturer's recommendations and its condition. Plan for additional testing by a competent person where plant has been altered, repaired or damaged, exposed to water or storm damage, or where the manufacturer requires it.
Finally, brief the team before work starts. A short first-day toolbox talk on what has changed, any damage found and the controls for the first jobs back helps everyone settle in. A change at the workplace is also one of the triggers for reviewing your risk controls, so check that SWMS and procedures still fit the work ahead and consult workers on anything new. January is peak heat, too, so it's worth revisiting our guide to working in heat before the first full week.
January restart checklist
- Site walk-through completed and recorded before power is restored
- Post-storm inspection documented, with damage repaired or isolated
- Scaffolds inspected where required before use resumes
- Electrical equipment checked where water or vermin damage is suspected
- Pre-start checks completed for each item of plant, with guards and emergency stops tested
- Re-commissioning carried out where plant was altered, damaged or stored for an extended period
- Contractor locks removed and plant formally handed back
- First-day briefing held, and SWMS and procedures checked against the work ahead
Illustrative example: A fabrication workshop closes for three weeks over Christmas. Before closing, the supervisor isolates and locks out the press brake and guillotine, lowers the overhead crane hook to the floor and parks the forklift with the key in the office safe. A contractor services the compressor during the break, with site access, check-in times and isolation agreed in writing. On return, a storm has left water near a switchboard. Because the restart was planned, an electrician checks the board before power is restored, the inspection is recorded, and each machine goes through its pre-start check before production starts.
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to lock out all plant over the Christmas break?
The WHS Regulation doesn't prescribe a single method, but it does require plant not in use to be left in a state that doesn't create a risk to anyone. The right arrangement depends on the plant's hazards and whether it could be energised or move unexpectedly. Where it could, the Plant Code describes lock-out as the most effective isolation method. Tags on their own are not isolation.
Who is responsible for securing a construction site over the break?
The person with management or control of a workplace where construction work is carried out must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that it is secured from unauthorised access. This applies to construction work of any value. On a construction project it is usually the principal contractor.
Do we need to re-commission plant before starting up in January?
Not always. Most plant needs routine pre-start checks and inspection in line with the manufacturer's recommendations. The Plant Code says plant used after an extended period of storage should be re-commissioned with the same level of testing as when first commissioned, and additional testing is wise where plant has been altered, damaged or exposed to storm damage.
Sources: Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) ss19 and 46; Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) ss48, 207, 213, 225 and 298; Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021 (sections 4.6, 4.7 and 5.5); WorkSafe Queensland, Construction security.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 6 November 2026.