Qld unions to be shut out of work sites

Union officials will soon lose the right to enter work sites unannounced in Queensland.

Changes to the Work Health and Safety Act are expected to be passed in parliament on Wednesday night.

One of the key changes will force unions to provide at least 24 hours written notice before entering a work site.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie says the amendment is needed because "militant" unions are using safety excuses to hold projects and employers to ransom.

But Queensland Council of Unions president John Battams says the legislation will reduce workers' rights and increase employee deaths, illnesses and injuries.

"It threatens to derail Queensland's improving workplace safety record through pandering to the big end of town," Mr Battams told AAP.

He said the changes would not reduce red tape, particularly given complaints about right of entry made up only 57 out of 10,000 made in recent years.

The amendment will also mean fines dished out to employers who breach electrical safety regulations will be upped to $33,000.