National Safe Work Month 2022

4 October 2022

This week marks the start of National Safe Work Month. Celebrated every year during October, National Safe Work Month is a time for all Canberrans to reaffirm their commitment to safe work practices, regardless of their role, their workplace or their personal identity.

Work Health and Safety (WHS) Commissioner Jacqueline Agius wants to remind the ACT community that WorkSafe ACT is here for all workers:

“Our theme for this year is all workers, all workplaces. We chose this theme to reinforce that while risks may vary from workplace to workplace, the role of WorkSafe ACT doesn’t change,” said the WHS Commissioner. “Our role is to make sure that no matter what industry, location or conditions Canberrans work in, their employer provides them with a safe and healthy workplace.”

Throughout National Safe Work Month, WorkSafe ACT will be hosting a range of events to raise awareness of work health and safety, labour hire licensing and workers’ compensation obligations. These events are focused on key weekly themes:

  • Week one: Hazardous chemicals, dangerous goods and substances
  • Week two: Mental health
  • Week three: Tradies’ health, labour hire licensing and workers’ compensation
  • Week four: Young workers

Each week will feature a Safety Session – a chance for workers, PCBUs and members of the public to meet WorkSafe ACT Inspectors and ask any questions they may have about work health and safety, workers’ compensation and labour hire licensing in a friendly and informal setting. The Safety Sessions will be hosted at:

  • Thursday 6 October, 10.30am - 2pm: Mitchell shops, corner of Heffernan and Brooke Streets
  • Wednesday 12 October, 10.30am - 2pm: Garema Place, near Ainslie Pl Loop
  • Wednesday 19 October, 9am – 4pm: Bunnings Belconnen, 15 Lathlain Street
  • Thursday 27 October, 9am - 9.30am and 12 - 1pm: CIT Fyshwick (enrolled students only)

The Safety Session on Wednesday 19 October is also the major fundraising event for the month. WorkSafe ACT will be providing a free sausage sizzle and raising funds for both Cancer Council ACT and Beyond Blue in recognition for the important work these charities do, including helping workers and families whose health and wellbeing has been impacted by work.

WorkSafe ACT Inspectors will be on hand to have a chat to workers and members of the public, there will be raffle tickets for a Bunnings Hamper and the WHS Commissioner Jacqueline Agius will be speaking at 10am.

The event on 19 October will also be attended by industry groups and union representatives, and members of the public and media are encouraged to attend, enjoy a sausage, make a donation and have a chat with an Inspector.

“National Safe Work Month is a great opportunity to ask the questions you might have been too afraid to ask or were uncertain about,” said the WHS Commissioner “We are always available and we will always work with anyone wanting to improve or clarify what safety means in their workplace – that’s what ‘all workers, all workplaces’ is all about.”

Additional digital resources will also be released throughout the month – follow WorkSafe ACT on LinkedIn to keep up to date.

WorkSafe ACT also has a calendar of National Safe Work Month events, including relevant online events held by other work health and safety regulators.

Statement ends.

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