This week marks the start of National Safe Work Month. Celebrated every 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 reminded 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. 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 host 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, people conducting businesses or undertakings, and members of the public to meet WorkSafe ACT Inspectors and ask questions 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 the major fundraising event for the month. WorkSafe ACT will provide a free sausage sizzle and raise funds for Cancer Council ACT and Beyond Blue in recognition of these charities’ important work, 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 speak at 10am.
The event on 19 October will be attended by industry groups and union representatives.
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,” Ms Agius said. “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 be released throughout the month. Follow WorkSafe ACT on LinkedIn to keep up to date.
WorkSafe ACT has a calendar of National Safe Work Month events, including relevant online events held by other work health and safety regulators.
