Workplace fatalities over 100 so far this year, safety message pushed ahead of National Safe Work month

Safe Work Australia (SWA) is pushing the message of safety in the workplace ahead of October’s National Safe Work Month as the toll of workplace fatalities recently reached 111.

“Sadly, as at 10 September, 111 Australian workers have been killed at work this year,” said Michelle Baxter, CEO of Safe Work Australia.

“National Safe Work Month is a time to focus on health and safety in your workplace to prevent death, injury and disease, and our online seminars provide a wealth of ideas, experience and insight to improve work health and safety practice across Australia.”

This year’s theme, ‘Be safe. Be healthy. Because…’ asks workers and employers to think about the reasons why being safe and healthy at work is important. An electronic information kit, containing a range of products including posters, fact sheets, logos, web banners and national safety statistics to help start the conversation, is now available on the SWA website.

An interactive Virtual Seminar Series (VSS) program focusing on mental health in the workplace, safety practice in the manufacturing and construction industries, and good work design will also be on offer throughout October.

“National Safe Work Month is all about participation and raising awareness of work health and safety. I encourage you to get involved in the activities and events planned for October, particularly the Virtual Seminar Series,” said Baxter.

Virtual Seminar Series — live broadcasts

This year’s VSS features four live broadcasts and online Q&A sessions:

Tuesday 6 October 2015, 11 am
Becoming a mentally healthy small business, featuring:

• Ann Sherry AO, Chair Safe Work Australia
• Georgie Harman, beyondblue
• Leanne Faulkner, Fortitude

Tuesday 13 October 2015, 3 pm
Construction: work design in complex supply chains, featuring:

• Mark McCabe, WorkSafe ACT
• Professor Helen Lingard, RMIT University
• Industry representative, TBC

Tuesday 20 October 2015, 11 am
Designing safe machinery, featuring:

• Peter Dunphy, SafeWork NSW
• Liz Bluff, Australian National University
• Industry representative, TBC

Tuesday 27 October 2015, 3 pm
Demonstrating the principles of good work design, featuring:

• Geoff Hurst, Engineers Australia
• Barbara McPhee, Ergonomist
• Peter Holmes, National Australia Bank

For more information, visit: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/australian-strategy/vss/pages/vss.