This October marks National Safe Work Month, a Safe Work Australia initiative dedicated to raising awareness of workplace health and safety, encouraging everyone to commit to keeping themselves and their colleagues safe at work. Every year, Safe Work Australia shines light on the importance of safety in all workplaces and this year’s theme couldn’t be more relevant: “Safety: every job, every day.”
At its core, this year's theme reminds us that safety isn’t just something to consider once a year or when an incident occurs. It's about integrating safety into every role, every task, and every workplace, whether you’re behind a desk, behind the wheel or getting your hands dirty in the workshop. No matter the job, everyone has a role to play in creating a safe working environment.
Why Workplace Safety Matters
For some workplaces, safety might seem like just another box to tick, but in reality, it’s far more than that. According to Safe Work Australia, 200 workers tragically lost their lives in 2023 due to workplace-related incidents, on top of that, there were another 139,000 serious worker compensation claims made. Whilst these figures do reflect an improvement from the past decade, they’re still a reminder that one life lost or one serious injury is one too many, especially in the workplace.
Although safety is enforced by laws, policies and procedures, the most important factor is protecting people and their wellbeing. A safe workplace helps build trust, confidence and productivity helping protect businesses from downtime and the emotional impact that comes from things going wrong.
So, when we talk about this year’s theme, “Safety: every job, every day,” we see it as more than just a phrase; it’s a mindset. It’s an opportunity to promote a culture where safety becomes second nature, no matter the task, because when we look out for ourselves and each other, everyone gets to go home safe.
The Role of People in Safety
Policies play a huge role in workplace safety, but real impact starts with people, more specifically the individuals who have the courage to step up, speak up and take responsibility just because they genuinely care about looking out for others. Every safe workplace is built on people who live and breathe safety.
This National Safe Work Month, the focus is on making safety visible through the small, everyday actions we take. Safe Work Australia breaks down workplace safety into four simple steps that can easily be built into our daily routines:
1. Identify Hazards: Look out for anything that could cause harm, both physically or mentally. This can be done by simply inspecting the workplace, talking with your team, reviewing any past incident reports, or having a look at trends happening in your industry.
2. Assess Risks: Once hazards are identified, consider what could happen if someone were exposed and the likelihood of this event happening. This can be as simple as a team discussion or as detailed as a formal risk assessment.
3. Control Risks: Take practical steps to reduce risks wherever possible. This might mean fixing a current hazard on the spot or even consulting with a WHS regulator for more complicated issues.
4. Review Controls: Finally, regularly check that safety measures are working effectively by regularly reviewing procedures, involving everyone in the process, and encouraging open conversations about what’s not working.
For those in the transport industry, safety should be non-negotiable. Following proactive steps like vehicle checks, fatigue management, and good communication can make a world of difference in ensuring a safe working environment. And today, with the use of telematics and connected fleet technology, operators now have more tools than ever to support safer operations and protect their people. From monitoring driver behaviour to managing maintenance schedules to preventing issues before they become incidents, technology is helping make “Safety: every job, every day” a reality.
FIND OUT MORE.
As we embrace this National Safety Month, we must remember that safety isn't just important for these four weeks, it's important every single day, no matter the job. This October, we encourage everyone to take part in National Safe Work Month and explore the resources and practical tools available to help make your workplace safer. You can find out more about National Safe Work Month at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month