National Safe Work Month: a call to prioritise safety

October is National Safe Work Month, and Safe Work Australia is encouraging all Australians to make safety a top priority.

The impacts of work-related injuries and fatalities are far reaching, affecting individuals, families and the broader community. Safe Work Australia data indicates that in 2023, 200 workers in Australia were fatally injured at work, and 139,000 serious workers compensation claims were made.

This year’s National Safe Work Month theme, ‘safety is everyone’s business’, calls on workplaces across the nation to make safety their business. This theme highlights the collective benefit of safe work practices to everyone in the workplace by reinforcing workplace health and safety as a fundamental principle and right.

“Creating safe and healthy workplaces is vital, and this October I urge workplaces across Australia to make safety their business and participate in National Safe Work Month," said Safe Work Australia Chief Executive Officer Marie Boland. “This year we want workplaces to think about safety as part of the everyday business of their workplace — creating a safe and healthy workplace that is free from physical and psychological harm benefits everyone.

“Commit to making work health and safety core to how you do business this National Safe Work Month and beyond.”

National Safe Work Month is led by Safe Work Australia and supported by initiatives across the country from Safe Work Australia Members and their representative organisations, including Commonwealth, state and territory WHS regulators as well as employers and unions.

For more information and to access the National Safe Work Month resources, go to safeworkmonth.swa.gov.au.

Image credit: iStock.com/witsarut sakorn