Safe Work Month coming this October

This October is National Safe Work Month, which is dedicated to encouraging individuals and workplaces to raise awareness of work health and safety.

The theme for 2015 is ‘Be safe. Be healthy. Because…’, allowing workplaces to personalise for themselves as to what it means to be safe and healthy at work.

There are four ways to get involved in National Safe Work Month this October:

• Virtual Seminar Series (VSS)

A series of free online seminars will showcase the latest thinking, innovation, research and developments in work health and safety throughout October focusing on safety throughout supply chains and good work design, in particular for the construction and manufacturing industries. Live broadcasts, online Q&A sessions and a range of resources including case studies, research and ideas to support work health safety activities within organisations will be on offer.

• National Safe Work Month Workplace Participation Reward

This reward will be presented to the organisation displaying the most spirit, participation, creativity and sustainable initiatives, as judged by photos and stories submitted throughout October. The winner will receive a prize pack valued at up to $5000 for entry into a work health and safety related conference, expo or event of choice.

• Online information kit

An online information kit, designed to assist organisations raise awareness of work health and safety, will be available for download in September, containing resources such as posters, fact sheets, web banners, email templates and national safety statistics.

• Smartphone app

The 2015 National Safe Work Month app will again allow easy access to tools, information and events around Australia, including events information, national safety statistics and links to the VSS. The app will be free to download on all mobile devices from mid-September.

For more information, visit www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au.