Between 2003 and 2018 in Australia, 3,753 workers have been killed in the workplace. In 2018 alone, 149 workers were killed on the job. Work-related injuries and disease cost the Australian marketplace approximately $61.8 billion per year.
No industry or workplace desires to be unsafe and no death or injury is acceptable. Each October, Safework Australia recognises and emphasises the importance of health and safety at work. The 2019 theme is “Be a Safety Champion.”
This year’s theme demonstrates that both employers and workers from any occupation or industry can be a champion for health and safety at work.
Being a safety champion describes more than just observing the rules or following procedures. Being a safety champion asks for individuals to show a strong focus on safety by:
Support a Culture of Safety
Everyone can support a safety culture at their workplace and promote best practice work health and safety initiatives. To help companies recognise the month’s focus, the Safework Australia website offers several resources. Use them to demonstrate in your workplace the importance of work health and safety and why everyone should be a safety champion, including:
Demonstrate your Commitment to Safety
We can all strive to Be a Safety Champion at work this October, and every month moving forward. It is important to demonstrate your commitment to safety through leading by example and following company policies.
If you are a contractor, review your company’s safety policies and programs to help reduce incidents.
If you are a Hiring Client, it’s a good time to evaluate your written programs and trainings. Ask your contact at ISN for information on how our team can help.
Are you a Hiring Client and interested to learn how ISN could help you manage your contractors and validate written programs? Request a demo of our contractor management software, ISNetworld.