The Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor (OWHSP) is an independent prosecution office, established by the Queensland parliament under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) to conduct and defend cases for breaches of Queensland’s work health and safety and resources safety and health laws. It commenced operation on 18 March 2019.

The Work Health and Safety Prosecutor (WHS Prosecutor) makes decisions about whether to commence, amend or terminate cases in accordance with the guidelines published by the Director of Public Prosecutions (Qld).

The WHS Prosecutor can also advise the Regulator on matters relating to the WHS Act and may undertake any other function given to the WHS Prosecutor by that Act or another Act.

The OWHSP does not investigate breaches of work health and safety and resources safety and health laws.