Workers encouraged to 'Speak Up. Save Lives'

SafeWork New South Wales (SafeWork NSW) is encouraging workers to ‘Speak Up. Save Lives’ through its new mobile app. The app, released 16 October, allows people to report any safety concerns — including dangerous practices or risks — directly to SafeWork NSW, complete with a description and up to three photos of the issue. It also has a GPS locator to help the regulator pinpoint the worksite in question.

Users can report anonymously or supply their contact details to get confirmation SafeWork NSW has received the report, lodged via email or text. NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said the Speak Up. Save Lives app “will give workers an easy, protected and fast way to report any health and safety problems” that “may impact their own wellbeing or that of their workmates”.

“Safety is everyone’s responsibility and everyone should feel confident they can report unsafe conditions.” Anderson added that, even with the app, workers need to report unsafe practices to employers. Additionally, businesses are still required to report any notifiable incidents, including death, serious injury or illness, or dangerous near misses by calling 13 10 50 immediately.

“Having seen the devastation workplace deaths and serious injury can have on the community, I would like to see workers play a more active role in making workplaces safer so everyone makes it home at the end of their shift,” Anderson said. SafeWork NSW said it would review all complaints and take action based on the level of risk present. Speak Up. Save Lives can be accessed via this link and will be available through app stores in the new year.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Uzhursky