National workplace health and safety policy agency Safe Work Australia has set the theme for National Safe Work Month as “Know safety, work safely – encouraging everyone to make health and safety a priority in the workplace.”
National Safe Work Month is their annual campaign to raise awareness of WHS in the community and build knowledge about work health and safety.
Throughout October, Safe Work Australia will provide resources for Australian workplaces to run their own events so they too can help build safe and healthy workplaces for all Australians.
National Safe Work Month runs for the entire month of October 2022.
According to Safe Work Australia preliminary data, 163 people died while doing their job last year.
Around 120,300 people made a workers’ compensation claim for serious injury or illness in 2019-20.
In addition to the overarching theme of “Know safety, work safely” for 2022, Safe Work Australia also has a theme for each week in October.
Week one focuses on Injuries at work – common health and safety risks and how to control them. These may come from slips, trips, falls, or manual handling injuries.
The second week focuses on mental or psychological health. Work-related psychological injuries or mental illness significantly impact workers, families, and business and this week will be about conversations on how to improve mental health and safety at work. This week also incorporates an observation of World Mental Health Day on the 10th of October.
Week three is about Managing WHS risks and preventing harm. This involves thinking about how workers may be exposed to hazards and what could happen – and how to best minimise those risks.
The fourth and final week places emphasis on a Safe and healthy work for all. This looks at the future of workplace safety, changes to work organisation, and future challenges that businesses and workers will need to overcome as the nature of work changes.
Businesses may also host their own “SafeTea” chats with workers, to start a conversation about health and safety at work. Workplaces may download co-brandable resources such as a SafeTea chat checklist, posters, video call backgrounds, and more. Click here to find out more.
Safe Work Australia is encouraging workplaces to join in raising awareness through social media through using the #safeworkmonth, #KnowSafety and #WorkSafely hashtags.
For further information and downloads, visit the National Safe Work Month home page.
