Workplace deaths in South Australia almost halved between 2016 and 2020. Every worker in the state deserves to return home unharmed at the completion of every shift.
That’s the message SafeWork SA is sending during National Safe Work Month, which begins this week.
The theme in 2022 is Know safety, work safely with a weekly focus on different health and safety areas including injuries at work, mental health and managing WHS risks.
I'm Martyn Campbell, Executive Director at SafeWork SA, and October is National Safe Work Month.
This year's theme is 'Know safety, Work safely'.
and it's time to commit to work health and safety in your organisation.
Safety at work affects everybody. Not only workers, but their families, loved ones and the wider community.
Whatever your industry or profession, it's an opportunity to get involved, host an event and contribute to work health and safety improvements in your workplace.
'Organise your own workplace activity' is your opportunity to pick an event, host it in your workplace, around the theme of the month. Register it on our website, tell us what your doing and go in our draw to win gold, silver or bronze prizes.
Get your workmates involved. Contribute to raising awareness to work health and safety issues and making improvements in your workplace.
And contribute to making South Australian workplaces safer.
South Australia recorded 21 workplace deaths in 2016 with the number steadily decreasing to 11 in 2020.
SafeWork SA Executive Director Martyn Campbell said National Safe Work Month is a time to commit to building a safe and healthy workplace.
‘No work-related injury or death is acceptable,’ he said.
‘Safety at work affects everyone – workers, their families, businesses and our community.
‘Whatever your industry or workplace – every organisation can champion work health and safety by participating in National Safe Work Month this October.’
Public events include a series of webinars throughout the month and a mock trial to provide insights into the legal framework around work health and safety laws.
The Augusta Zadow Awards will also be presented during the month at a Government House ceremony on 7 October.
The mock trial will be held at the Burnside Ballroom on 19 October.
SafeWork SA is again running its popular ‘Organise Your Own Workplace Activity’ competition.
Workplaces are encouraged to start planning an activity that will raise awareness about important work health and safety issues.
By registering an activity with SafeWork SA, businesses will go into the running to win a prize from our $2,000 prize pool. The competition runs throughout the month so workplaces can register their activity anytime until 31 October 2022.
National Safe Work Month has been held since 2009 after workplace deaths in Australia reached a peak of 310 in 2007.
SafeWork SA is also encouraging workplaces to sign up for the Billion Steps Challenge. The Wellbeing SA initiative runs throughout October and this year aims to inspire South Australians to collectively reach the billion-step milestone, which is equivalent to walking from Earth to the moon and back.
Wellbeing is a key pillar of happy and healthy workplaces and SafeWork SA is entering a team and encouraging its staff to take part in the Billion Step Challenge, which runs alongside National Safe Work Month.
A full calendar of events is available on SafeWork SA’s National Safe Work Month web page.
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