Safe Work Australia Observing National Safe Work Month
"National Safe Work Month has been running for over a decade, and during this time there has been a steady decline in the number of workers injured or killed at work. However, each year almost 200 people are still heading off to work and not returning home. We can do better than this," CEO Michelle Baxter says.
Michelle Baxter, the CEO of Safe Work Australia, launched 2016 National Safe Work Month in a video message urging the country's workers to save lives by having conversations, sharing stories, and raising awareness about occupational health and safety. National Safe Work Month is observed in October and encourages Australians to make health and safety a priority in their workplaces.
"Work health and safety is something every single worker needs to be aware of," Baxter said. "National Safe Work Month has been running for over a decade, and during this time there has been a steady decline in the number of workers injured or killed at work. However, each year almost 200 people are still heading off to work and not returning home. We can do better than this. We can improve these statistics, and this can start with a simple conversation. The more we talk about work health and safety, the more it becomes a normal part of our conversation and everyday work life."
Health and safety regulators in each state and territory have organized events throughout October, and Safe Work Australia's Virtual Seminar Series offers free online resources that safety managers can use. During October, the seminars address workplace mental health, work-related fatigue, and safety for emergency services personnel.