How to Prepare for a WHS Audit on Construction Sites in Queensland (And Pass With Confidence using a qualified WHS Consultant in Brisbane)
- StaySafe Consulting
- Jun 4
- 3 min read
Ensure your construction site passes its next WHS audit in Queensland. Learn expert strategies, compliance tips, and audit-ready documentation from Stay Safe Enterprises.
Construction businesses in Queensland are under increasing pressure to meet the strict health and safety standards enforced by Work Health and Safety Queensland and Safe Work Australia. One of the most effective ways to maintain compliance — and avoid penalties — is to ensure your site is fully prepared for a WHS audit.
As a trusted WHS consultant in Brisbane, Stay Safe Enterprises helps construction companies across Queensland pass audits, reduce risk, and improve their safety systems. In this blog, we outline exactly what you need to do to prepare your site for a WHS audit — from documentation to site inspections — so you can pass with confidence.
Why WHS Audits Matter in Queensland Construction
A WHS audit is a comprehensive review of your workplace's ability to meet Work Health and Safety legislation. Audits are either internal or external and assess your risk controls, incident reporting, worker engagement, and more.
Failing a WHS audit can result in:
Notices or penalties from WorkSafe Queensland
Loss of contracts or prequalification status
Reputational damage with clients and stakeholders
That’s why investing in WHS audit preparation is crucial for every site manager or construction business owner.
Step 1: Review Your WHS Documentation
The first thing an auditor will review is your safety management system documentation. This includes:
Ask yourself:
Are these documents current, complete, and specific to the site?
If not, it’s time to get them updated. As part of our WHS consulting packages, we help businesses develop audit-ready documents tailored to their operations.
Step 2: Conduct a Pre-Audit Site Inspection
Before an auditor steps on site, you should perform a pre-audit inspection. This internal walk through helps you identify:
Unsafe plant or equipment
Uncontrolled hazards (e.g. silica dust, electrical risks)
Gaps in signage, PPE, or emergency access
Workers not following safety procedures
This is your chance to fix issues before they’re flagged.
Pro tip: Use a detailed WHS inspection checklist aligned with the WHS Regulation 2011 (QLD) to cover all bases. We can supply these tools as part of our construction WHS audit prep service.
Step 3: Train and Brief Your Team
During an audit, your team may be asked questions about
Their awareness of the site’s SWMS
The last safety induction they attended
How they report near misses or hazards
Emergency response procedures
If workers aren't sure, it reflects poorly on your overall system.
You can fix this by conducting a pre-audit safety briefing and updating your training matrix. Our clients often use our WHS Induction and Competency Register templates to stay on top of this.
Step 4: Ensure Records Are Available and Verifiable
Auditors will want to see:
Evidence of corrective actions from past incidents
Training records for all site personnel
Sign-in logs and contractor verification
Safety meeting minutes and action follow-ups
Make sure these records are not just completed, but stored in a way that’s easy to present. We recommend cloud-based WHS tracking tools or a centralised site folder system.
Need help digitising your WHS records?
Step 5: Engage a WHS Consultant for a Mock Audit
One of the best ways to prepare is to simulate the real thing.
Stay Safe Enterprises offers mock WHS audits tailored to your sector and project type — including high-risk construction and OFSC-accredited builds. We’ll assess your documentation, conduct a full site walk-through, and help you close any gaps before regulators do.
Common WHS Audit Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
Avoid these common mistakes:
Generic, template-only SWMS with no site-specific changes
No record of risk control reviews
Safety meetings not documented
No evidence of incident follow-up
Poor housekeeping or blocked emergency access
With the right guidance, you can avoid these issues and prove your site’s safety compliance with confidence.
At Stay Safe Enterprises, we’ve helped dozens of construction firms across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and regional QLD pass WHS audits with flying colours.
Whether you need help writing compliant WHS plans, conducting site inspections, or reviewing your safety systems, our team is ready to assist.
Experienced lead auditors
Fully compliant documentation packages
On-call support and retainer services
Trusted across QLD construction projects
Contact us now to book a consultation or request a WHS Audit Readiness Package.
