NSW small businesses receive safety mentors

NSW businesses have been given an opportunity to improve safety in their workplaces, with SafeWork NSW launching its 2017 Mentor Program.

There are 80 businesses involved in the program, which involves an experienced business pairing with a small one to find ways of improving work health and safety, workers compensation and injury management.

The program runs for three to six months and involves a series of site visits, advisory sessions and workshops. SafeWork NSW also conducts free advisory and educational sessions across a variety of safety and injury management topics.

“The Mentor Program brings big and small businesses together to create new ways of tackling safety in the workplace,” SafeWork NSW Acting Deputy Executive Director Jodie Deakes said.

“Mentors are some of the country’s leading health and safety professionals and they understand the work health and safety challenges mentees face on a daily basis.

“They can suggest innovative solutions to common safety, injury management and workers compensation issues.

“The program is a great example of businesses helping each other to stay safe while also contributing to an improved bottom line.”

To coincide with the commencement of the program, SafeWork NSW has launched a Mentor Program eBook featuring the stories, safety benefits and tips of some of the 485 businesses that have participated in the program since its commencement in 2006.

The program gives medium and large businesses the opportunity to share the importance of a positive safety culture.

“Every worker in this state has the right to a safe and healthy workplace, and safety is everyone’s responsibility,” said Deakes.

“The Mentor Program encourages small businesses to think about how they can create a safety culture at their workplace while mentors have the opportunity to enhance their business’s reputation and profile.”

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