think safe. work safe. be safe – That is the theme for National Safe Work Month this year
Think safe—is the first step to thinking about work health and safety, which covers the planning and forethought that Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) (such as employers and small business owners) must do to identify risks and maintain healthy and safe workplaces.
Work safe—is about implementing work health and safety measures to manage risks including the practical steps you can take to reduce risk and avoid workplace incidents.
Be safe—considers the ongoing process of managing and monitoring work health and safety risks – it is not a one off.
More information at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month
Person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. This includes providing and maintaining a work environment that is without risks to health and safety.
Businesses must identify hazards at the workplace, and the associated risks, and do what is reasonably practicable to eliminate the risks, or to minimise the risks if elimination is not reasonably practicable.
PCBUs need to keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 information and advice to ensure that any action taken is measured and appropriate.
Depending on the workplace, an appropriate range of actions may include:
Before sending workers interstate or overseas on business, employers must first assess the health and safety risk to their worker/s. Employers should also be familiar with any responsibilities outlined in employment contracts or workplace agreements if their workers become ill.
If a worker contracts COVID-19 at work or while undertaking work and requires hospitalisation, you must notify The WHS regulator as soon as you become aware of the situation.
Workers also have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and to not adversely affect the health and safety of others. Workers should always practice good hygiene and other measures to protect against infections, including:
This week is Men’s Health Week.
http://www.menshealthweek.org.au/
Males are overrepresented in work-related injury and disease (even when accounting for workforce share).
For example, in the administrative and support services industry, males make up 47% of workers but account for 63% of serious injury claims. (Safe Work Australia)
Check out the Men’s Health facts and infographics here
http://www.menshealthweek.org.au/events/resources/male-health-infographics
Working with livestock can be challenging!
Animals are involved in around 20% of serious injuries in the agriculture sector. (Safe Work Australia data)
Livestock handling can include working with livestock in paddocks, laneways, yards, cattle transportation, feedlots, abattoirs, saleyards and activities relating to on-farm sales.
Workers and other persons who conduct livestock handling are at risk of sustaining injuries such as bone fractures, bruising, dislocations, crush injuries, lacerations and in some cases may be fatal.
SafeWorkSA’s guidelines on livestock handling are now available
Australian Livestock & Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) also has published national guidelines
Safety Geek has experience in this area so just #asksafetygeek if you want to know more
worksafe.qld.gov.au has 2 great campaigns featuring Safety Advocates and Ambassadors. The aim is to increase awareness about the importance of work health and safety and highlight the personal impacts that an injury can have on workers and their families and prompt discussion about work health and safety.
Check it out here
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/resources/campaigns/safety-advocates
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/resources/campaigns/ambassadors
Wednesday 28 April is World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day.
The latest data shows that in 2019, 183 workers were fatally injured at work.
The number of work-related fatalities has decreased over the last decade, which is a positive sign.
In 2019, 62% of worker fatalities occurred in the following industries:
The most common causes of worker fatalities in 2019 were:
Today is an opportunity for everyone to think about and raise awareness of how to prevent work-related diseases, deaths, injuries, and illnesses.
It is also a day to remember those that have died from a work-related injury or illness.
Stay Safe Everyone
*source https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media-centre/news/work-related-fatalities-2019
Its that time of year again….
Hot weather and bushfire danger!
Some facts from Safe Work Australia –
This time last year, parts of Australia were badly affected by extreme heat and bushfires. Working in heat and/or in air pollution can be hazardous and can cause harm to workers in both indoor and outdoor work environments.
Over the 10 years from 2009-10 to 2018-19, there were 1,774 workers’ compensation claims resulting from working in heat.
There are a whole range of Working in Heat and Air Pollution/Bushfire Smoke resources available for employers and workers to help manage these risks
Stay cool
It’s a new world and a different workplace in 2021
Things are different this year and 2021 will have an additional safety focus and workplace changes with COVID
This article from Gallagher Bassett explains some of the key risk areas
https://blog.gallagherbassett.com.au/blog/a-risk-managers-guide-to-2021-health-and-safety-planning
#safetygeek #2021
What is a healthy workplace and why should you have one?
https://www.healthyworkplaces.sa.gov.au/
This website has been developed by the Collaborative Partnership to provide a central source of information, tools and resources to help South Australian businesses create healthy, safe and thriving workplaces.
A safe and healthy workplace leads to
Good, safe and meaningful work is a positive contributor to the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all South Australians including workers, their families and communities.