Safe Work Australia marks 2024 World Day for Safety and Health at Work

World Day for Safety and Health at Work (World Day) and Workers’ Memorial Day will take place on Sunday, 28 April 2024. The 2024 World Day theme set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) explores the impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health. The International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC) theme for Workers’ Memorial Day 2024 is “climate risks of workers”.

Changing weather patterns can create work health and safety risks, such as heat stress, UV radiation, air pollution, major industrial accidents, extreme weather events, an increase in vector-borne diseases and increased exposure to chemicals. Data from Safe Work Australia (SWA) shows that in 2022, 195 workers in Australia were fatally injured at work. This statistic amplifies the importance of increasing awareness around work health and safety to prevent work-related injuries and fatalities.

Safe Work Australia has encouraged everyone to recognise the importance of health and safety in the workplace by promoting World Day and acknowledging Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April 2024. The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy aims to deliver WHS improvements over the next decade, addressing emerging issues such as climate change and the green economy. This World Day and Worker’s Memorial Day, the strategy aims to achieve its vision of safe and healthy work for all.

Safe Work Australia has developed a range of co-brandable resources for employers to use in the workplace, including a poster, desktop background and social media tile. SWA also has a range of resources about how to stay safe when working in severe weather.

For more information and to download resources, go to the World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day web page.

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