2023 National Safe Work Month
Filter By Category
“For Everyone’s Safety, Work Safely” Chosen As National Safe Work Month 2023 Theme
Safe Work Australia has selected “For everyone’s safety, work safely” as the theme for 2023’s National Safe Work Month.
Together with state Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) authorities, businesses, employers, and workers around the country, National Safe Work Month highlights the importance of Workplace Health and Safety and urges all stakeholders to commit to building safe and healthy workplaces for all Australians.
According to Safe Work Australia, 169 people lost their lives on the job during 2012. Over 130,195 serious workers compensation claims were made over the same period.
National Safe Work Month, held each year, aims to prevent harm and fatalities among workers by promoting and facilitating a positive safety culture in Australian workplaces.
Each week throughout October will highlight different health and safety topics for discussion.
Week 1 (1-8 October) is working together to manage risks at work, looking at reviewing risk assessment processes from identifying hazards and implementing or reviewing control measures.
Week 2 (9-15 October) is working together to protect workers’ mental health, a highlight on psychological and mental health. This week, stakeholders will learn how to identify psychosocial hazards and manage and mitigate harm. This will culminate in an acknowledgement of World Mental Health Day on the 10th of October.
Week 3 (16-22 October) focuses on working together to support all workers, emphasising reducing vulnerabilities for workers on both sides of the employer/employee divide such as being younger, working alone, or being from a culturally or linguistically diverse background. There will also be a focus on improving WHS for labour hire workers.
Week 4 (23-31 October) will round out National Work Safe Month by placing WHS at the core of all business activities, working together to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. This week will look at the future of workplace health and safety, including new ways of working.
Employers are also encouraged to hold a SafeTea break during the month to discuss WHS among workers and management in an informal, relaxed setting.
Resources are available for workplaces and workers to promote National Safe Work month, such as discussion points, conversation starter dice, posters, decorations, infographics, and more. You can view download these resources at Safe Work Australia.
Workers and employers are encouraged to follow Safe Work Australia on social media and subscribe to their mailing list, as well as tag their National Safe Work Month posts with #SafeTea and #SafeWorkMonth.
