Inspire safety talk with a 'Jobs At Home Day' badge

The Victorian WorkCover Authority wants all Victorians to participate in 'Jobs At Home Day' on 5 December by creating and wearing a special badge that highlights an important role they play at home.

The free badges, which can be ordered at jobsathomeday.com.au, are aimed at sparking conversations about the importance of safety at work by celebrating the jobs we do when we get home safely at the end of the day.

Whether it be Chief Bedtime Storyteller or Head of Kitchen Duties, we all have important jobs at home that our loved ones, including our families, friends or our pets, rely on us to do.

VWA Chief Executive Denise Cosgrove said Jobs at Home Day was a light-hearted way to remind people that the most important reason for staying safe at work isn’t at work at all.

“You might be a tradie, a factory worker or a nurse by day, but at home you transform into the King of the Kids, Primary Pooch Walker or Head of Teenage Transport,” Cosgrove said.

But behind the light-hearted approach is a serious safety message. Since 2009, 117 Victorians have lost their lives in a workplace incident and almost 25% of these tragedies occurred during the pre-Christmas rush period of November and December.

“Demanding deadlines, hectic schedules and the drive to get a job done before taking a Christmas break can sometimes mean health and safety is not at the forefront of everyone’s mind at this time of year,” Cosgrove said.

“Jobs At Home Day is designed to get employers, workers and their families talking about workplace safety because Christmas should be a time of celebration with family and friends, not mourning the loss of a loved one because of a workplace incident.

“I encourage all Victorians to go to jobsathomeday.com.au now to create a special badge for themselves, their family, friends and colleagues. We want everyone to wear a badge on Jobs At Home Day on 5 December to inspire discussion about workplace safety.”

Badges will be delivered within five working days of being ordered. Everyone who takes part will automatically go in the draw to win a $5000 Flight Centre travel voucher. Photos shared on Facebook or Twitter could also win a $500 Coles Myer voucher.

For further details, go to jobsathomeday.com.au.