The direct answer: if your business installs, operates, maintains, repairs, inspects, commissions, decommissions or controls an amusement device in Queensland, the Amusement Devices Code of Practice 2023 is a key practical reference. It applies to amusement devices as workplace plant and focuses on managing risks across the device's life cycle. The Queensland Code commenced on 1 February 2024.
This matters beyond ride operators. Builders, subcontractors, electricians, riggers, supervisors, event organisers and site controllers may all influence safe set-up, access, power, ground conditions, lifting, maintenance or emergency response.
Information current: 8 August 2026. Local requirements vary across Australia. Check current regulator material for your jurisdiction before relying on a work method or document. A national Model Code, where relevant, is general orientation and does not automatically apply as law. This guide focuses on the Queensland Code.
Main hazards to manage
The risk profile changes with the device, site and phase of work. Common hazards include:
- collapse, movement or instability caused by poor ground, supports or anchoring
- crushing, entanglement and contact with moving parts
- falls from height and dropped objects during set-up or maintenance
- failure of restraints, guarding, controls, emergency stops or critical components
- electric shock, damaged leads, unsuitable supply and contact with overhead or underground services
- wind, rain, heat, lightning and other conditions outside safe operating limits
- unsafe loading, crowd movement and unauthorised access
- manual handling, noise, fatigue and poor communication
- fire, power failure, malfunction or an evacuation that has not been planned
- drowning, entanglement and hard-surface impacts around water-borne inflatables.
Risk management should identify foreseeable hazards, eliminate risks where reasonably practicable, then minimise remaining risks using the hierarchy of controls. Physical solutions such as safe siting, isolation, barriers, guarding, restraints and engineered anchoring normally come before signs, procedures and PPE.
What to sort before work starts
Start with the actual device, actual task and actual site. Confirm who controls the device, who controls the workplace and who is directing each work phase. Consultation should cover the owner, installer, operators, maintenance people, event organiser, principal contractor and affected trades where relevant.
Before bump-in or set-up, usually confirm:
- manufacturer instructions, manuals, design information and any competent-person directions
- current registration and inspection information relevant to the device
- site layout, access, ground bearing conditions, slope, drainage and anchoring points
- overhead and underground services, electrical supply and generator arrangements
- weather limits, shutdown triggers and a reliable way to monitor conditions
- exclusion zones, loading and unloading areas, fencing and public access controls
- competent installers, operators and attendants, with task-specific instruction
- emergency stops, evacuation, rescue, first aid and communication arrangements
- handover checks before passengers or users are admitted.
Queensland guidance says installation, assembly, commissioning, decommissioning and dismantling must be performed by competent people with available risk information. Operators must also be competent and trained in normal operation, pre-use checks, emergency stopping, passenger access and safe exit.
What good controls and documents usually cover
Useful documents should reflect how the work will actually be done. Depending on the activity, the package commonly includes a device risk assessment or safety assessment, site plan, set-up procedure, pre-start and daily inspection records, maintenance and repair records, operator training evidence, emergency and rescue arrangements, and consultation or handover records.
The device log book and manuals should give the crew a reliable history of inspections, maintenance, testing, repairs and alterations. Event organisers can request details of the most recent annual inspection and operator competency before the device operates. Site information should be shared early, including access points, ground conditions, services and the event emergency plan.
A SWMS is commonly relevant when installation, dismantling or associated works form part of construction work and involve high risk construction work, such as a fall risk or work near energised services. Check the precise trigger in the applicable jurisdiction. For work outside that trigger, a site-specific risk assessment, lift plan, isolation procedure, rescue plan or safe operating procedure may still be the right control document. Do not let overlapping documents contradict each other.
Practical warning signs
Pause and escalate if you find missing or inconsistent manuals, inspection details that cannot be verified, undocumented alterations, damaged restraints or guards, unstable supports, improvised anchoring, bypassed interlocks, unclear wind limits, exposed electrical equipment, blocked emergency access, or workers who cannot explain shutdown and rescue steps.
Other red flags include pressure to operate before handover checks, unclear control between the device owner and site organiser, defects repeatedly written off as normal, and records completed after the event rather than when checks occurred.
How Blue Safe can help
Blue Safe provides compliant WHS documents tailored to the client's activities, applicable Australian WHS/OHS requirements, jurisdiction and industry. Blue Safe guarantees the document compliance of the WHS documents it provides, including eligible customer documents after Blue Safe has reviewed and upgraded them.
Blue Safe can align the document set to the device, work phase, site interfaces and people involved, so responsibilities, controls, inspections, training and evidence fit together. Customers actively put the compliant documents into practice through controls, consultation, training, actions, records and evidence. This creates a practical system supervisors and crews can use from planning through set-up, operation, maintenance and pack-down.