Safe Work Month 2023
October is National Safe Work Month. A time to show your commitment to keeping our workplaces safe and healthy.
Each year, this month aims to encourage a strong safety culture and support all workers to return home safely at the end of each day. When we raise awareness and understand the importance of safe practices, we can make a real difference in reducing work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
For 2023, WorkSafe ACT has decided on a local theme, to really let our fellow Canberrans know how important your health and safety is to us.
Safe Work Month: it’s everyone’s Territory
Safe Work Month is a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on your workplace. A safe and healthy workplace benefits everyone.
October is also Mental Health Month, a month to raise community awareness and understanding of mental health.
Throughout the month, we will also be supporting and fundraising for the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre a local organisation providing crisis, counselling and advocacy support to survivors of sexual violence and their supporters. Join us at any of our Safety Sessions or visit their website to find out more and to donate.
Focus on health and safety
Each week of October we will have a different focus that highlights priorities in WHS in the ACT.
| Focus | Information |
|---|---|
Week 1 Vulnerable workers Workers’ compensation Labour hire licensing: | Vulnerable workers Vulnerable workers, including young workers, worker’s compensation and labour hire licensing are at high risk of harm in workplaces and require specific considerations to keep them safe and healthy at work. A vulnerable worker includes a young worker aged up to 25 years, a migrant or visa worker (particularly where English is not their first language), someone starting a new job, someone who is LGBTQIA+. To learn more about these workers’ rights visit our Young workers and vulnerable workers web pages. Workers’ compensation Vulnerable workers statistically have a much higher likelihood of being injured at work. Vulnerable workers may also be unaware of their rights to workers’ compensation and how they should be supported if they are injured at work. Visit our Workers’ compensation webpage to find out more. Labour hire licensing Labour hire licensing laws are in place to protect vulnerable workers in labour hire employment. These laws ensure that workers employed in labour hire arrangements are supported and protected by their employers. Visit our dedicated Labour Hire Licensing webpage to find out more. Check out the email we sent out about this week’s theme on our news page. |
Week 2 Psychosocial hazards | Psychosocial hazards are factors in the design or management of work, or harmful workplace behaviours. There are currently 12 identified common psychosocial hazards recognised in the ACT, including fatigue, low role clarity, role overload, and isolated and remote work. To learn more about these visit our dedicated psychosocial hazard webpage. Check out the email we sent out about this week’s theme on our news page. |
Week 3 ACT Public Service | The ACTPS has broad responsibilities including the management of parks, greenfield and brownfield construction developments, public transport, fire and ambulance services, municipal services, health, education and justice systems. During this week WorkSafe ACT is launching a Strategy specific to the ACT Public Service. This Strategy will provide a clear approach for WorkSafe ACT to improve work health and safety behaviours and compliance in the ACTPS (and public sector). The 4 key objectives of the Strategy are to:
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Week 4 All workers, all workplaces | While risks may vary from workplace to workplace, the role of WorkSafe ACT does not change. Our role is to make sure that no matter what industry, occupation, location, or conditions Canberrans work in, their employer provides them with a safe and healthy workplace. All workers in all workplaces have a right to return home safely at the end of each day. |
Resources and activities
We have designed a digital campaign kit that you can use at your workplace, on your communications and social media. You can download it here.
So far this month, we have released a range of digital resources including safety alerts, videos, and guidance materials. In case you missed what we did, we have a recap below:
| Week | Item | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Safety Alert | Workers' Compensation Policies |
| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | Workers' compensation FAQ | |
Translated Guidance Notes into English, Vietnamese, Punjabi, Nepali and Simplified Chinese
| ||
| Week 2 | Poster: Fatigue sounds like | Fatigue sounds like |
| Safety Alert | Managing Workplace Fatigue | |
| Week 3 | Safety Alert | Risk Managing the Hazard 'Isolated and Remote Work' |
| Launch of the ACT Public Service and Public Sector Strategy | ACT Public Service and Public Sector Strategy | |
| YouTube Video | Role overload - don't ignore it | |
| Week 4 | Safety Alert | PCBU's Primary Duty of Care |
We will also be holding weekly Safety Sessions across Canberra, where you can come and meet our Inspectors and ask questions about keeping your workplaces safe and healthy.
How YOU can get involved
We’re asking businesses, employers, workers and the ACT community to join us in celebrating Safe Work Month and commit to building safe and healthy practices for all workers, all workplaces.
There are lots of ways you can get involved, including:
- promote the month in your workplace
- download and use our campaign kit resources
- grab a cuppa and hold a SafeTea chat
- join us at our Safety Sessions
Keep up to date
Keep up to date on how WorkSafe ACT is working with the Canberra community to improve work health and safety:
- follow WorkSafe ACT on LinkedIn
- subscribe to receive our Safety Alerts, updates and news items
More information:
On this page