WorkSafe roadshow to tour Victoria

Tuesday, 01 May, 2012

WorkSafe Victoria’s annual roadshow begins soon, with 19 metropolitan and country locations to be visited from 15 May to 19 June.

The event is aimed at business operators, return to work coordinators and elected workplace health and safety representatives, for which special breakout sessions are being held for the first time. Bookings are essential.

The free 60-minute session will provide information about a wide range of topics, including:

latest news and developments in workplace health and safety;
helping injured workers get back to work;
WorkSafe premium and how it’s calculated;
online employer services, highlighting a useful tool for the growing number of business operators who use contractors.

WorkSafe’s Deputy Chief Executive, Ian Forsyth, said the roadshow had grown into an important part of the organisation’s community engagement strategy.

“People get information, but most importantly, they also have the opportunity to ask questions in an informal setting,” he said.

“People are often busy in their workplaces or running a business and issues like safety, return to work needs for injured workers and the details of the workplace injury insurance can be put aside to deal with ‘another day’.

“By taking just one hour from a busy schedule to get up to date with these matters creates an opportunity that pays dividends.”

This year the event will be focusing on the role of supervisors and how WorkSafe’s WorkHealth program can help protect people and make the business better.

“While Victoria has Australia’s lowest injury rate and our employers pay the lowest average premiums, more can, and must, be done to reinforce that position,” Forsyth said.

“Around 28,000 people, on average, are hurt badly enough at work each year to make a workers compensation claim. Last year, 24 traumatic work-related deaths were reported and already this year another four deaths have been reported.

“The impact of this isn’t just on the individual, family, employer and coworkers, but the effect on the business can be profound and long-lasting.”

The program will feature at the following dates and locations, with breakout sessions to be held at some of these: