WorkSafe ACT and the Suburban Land Agency are urging construction workers to prioritise safety in the lead-up to the festive season, warning that fatigue and deadline pressure can heighten risks on site.

The annual campaign focuses on the period when workloads intensify and workers may be tired or rushing to complete projects before the end of the year.

The campaign encourages workers to reflect on what they value — whether time with family, pets or simply a quiet break — and avoid trading those things for the sake of a deadline.

Messaging will appear across social media and on-site signage at Jacka and Whitlam throughout December and January.

Housing and suburban development minister Yvette Berry MLa said no project milestone was worth compromising safety.

“We all understand how pressure to complete key projects before the end of the year can mount, but no deadline is worth risking your safety and that of the community,” she said.

Skills, training and industrial relations minister Michael Pettersson MLA said both workers and employers needed to pause and put wellbeing first.

“No job is more important than your wellbeing, and no deadline is worth the cost of an injury,” he said. “Let’s all commit to looking out for one another so everyone can get home safely to the people and moments that matter most.”

Work Health and Safety Commissioner Jacqueline Agius said even momentary lapses could have serious consequences when people were fatigued.

“As the end of the year approaches, pressure can lead to fatigue, and even a momentary lapse in safety can have tragic consequences,” she said. “Take a moment to think about what a lapse in safety could mean for you and the people you care about.”