UNIONS have warned Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie he is placing the safety of workers in jeopardy under moves to restrict their entry to Queensland work sites.

But employer groups say the move is just what the industry needs to protect them from unnecessary stoppages.

Mr Bleijie yesterday introduced new laws which mean unions will have to give at least 24 hours’ notice before entering a workplace on suspicion of a breach of the Work Health and Safety Act.

Currently no notice is required.

The laws also remove the right for union safety officials to direct workers to cease unsafe work.

If unions ignore the changes they face fines of up to $22,000.

Mr Bleijie said the laws were needed to stop unions misusing the right of entry provisions.

“For too long, we have seen construction unions using safety as an industrial weapon in this State,” Mr Bleijie told State Parliament yesterday.

“I have personally heard of stories from hard working Queenslanders who have been locked out of their workplace because of militant union activity.

“Sites are being hijacked and workers held to ransom. This practice has to end.”

He was supported by construction industry groups including the Housing Industry Association and Master Builders.

Master Builders Director of Construction Policy, John Crittall, said the amendments would ensure legitimate safety issues were addressed “without the need to unnecessarily halt work on construction sites”.

But Queensland Council of Unions president John Battams said the changes will put lives at risk.

“The most important thing for workers is that they come home safely and if the government thinks delaying inspection of hazardous situations at work for 24 hour is going to improve health and safety they are sadly mistaken,” Mr Battams said.

He said while the majority of employers did the right thing, there were some who cut corners and they would use the change as a loophole.

“It will be exploited by the employers who don’t think health and safety is important. They will have 24 hours to cover up dangerous situations during which people could be killed or injuries.

“He (Mr Bleijie) may live to rue the fact that he’s allowed this situation to occur.”

Government figures quoted in the explanatory notes tabled yesterday along with the changes, show between 2011/12 and 2012/13 Work Health and Safety inspectors responded to 57 right of entry disputes at Queensland worksites.

Inspectors reported that notices were issued on occasions, but that overall none of the issues identified during the disputes were considered to be an immediate or imminent risk to workers or others at the workplace.