Safe Work Month

For over a decade now, October has been Australia’s National Safe Work Month, when those in the industry make a point to prioritise workplace health and safety to reduce work-related injury, death and disease.

During the time Safe Work Month has been in place, there has been a steady decline in the numbers of work-related injuries and fatalities, “however, each year almost 200 people are still heading off to work and not coming home,” says Michelle Baxter, CEO of Safe Work Australia.

Baxter believes those numbers can be improved even further, “this can start with a simple conversation,” she says.

“Work health and safety is something every single worker needs to be aware of, (and) the more we talk about work health and safety, the more it becomes a normal part of our conversations and everyday work life,” says Baxter.

You can participate in the National Safe Work Month by attending one of the hundreds of events being hosted throughout the country – most of which are free –, or you can make use of the collection of free online resources on the latest thinking, research, developments and best practice which are broadcast year-round, available on the Safe Work Australia website.

“During October, our Virtual Seminar Series will feature conversations about workplace mental health, work-related fatigue, safety for emergency services personnel, and Indigenous-led work safety.

“Share them with your colleagues to start a conversation and raise awareness to this cause,” urges Baxter.

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