National Safe Work Month 2024
Published on Posted onOctober is National Safe Work Month. During this month we encourage all individuals and organisations to prioritise work health and safety and take preventative action to reduce the number of work – related injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
Zaparas Lawyers would like to take this month to promote a positive work safety culture and to emphasise the importance of ensuring all of our workplaces are safe for both employees and employers.
National Safe Work Month is an important time of reflection as year after year we see a high number of fatalities in Australia at the workplace. In 2022 alone, 195 workers were fatally injured and 127,800 serious workers’ compensation claims were made.
Zaparas Lawyers see first hand every day how devastating the effects of a workplace injury can be, which is why our firm is so passionate about this topic and the dialogue that this month promotes. National Safe Work Month is a great opportunity to raise awareness about workplace health and safety (WHS). It emphasizes the shared benefits that safe and healthy work environments bring to individuals, organizations, and the broader community.
Safety is everyone’s business
Every National Safe Work Month has a unique theme with an aim to highlight specific factors that can ensure workplace health and safety standards are upheld.
This years theme is ‘Safety is everyone’s business‘. According to Safe Work Australia “This theme encapsulates a sage and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right across all industries and occupations, while reinforcing the business benefit that comes from committing to safe workplaces.”
National Safe Work Month 2024 Themes
Each week of October revolves around a specific topic Regarding Work Health and Safety. This allows a more focused approach to all of the intricacies that make up Work Health and Safety each week of the month.
These topics are:
Week 1: Work health and safety fundamentals
The first week of National Safe Work Month entails unpacking the fundamentals of good WHS practice. These fundamentals proactively manage the WHS risks and ensure you consider health and safety in everything you do/decision you make while at work. If workers notice how important safety is to their employers they are more likely to follow procedures and feel more comfortable raising issues with them.
It is the employers duty to eliminate or minimise health and safety risks as much as they reasonably can, this is done by taking action and managing the risks associated by employment.
You can take action by
- Identify and assess – talk to workers, look for hazards in the workplace, assess the risks.
- Control – eliminate the risks if possible or minimise the risks as much as you reasonably can using control measures.
- Monitor and review – monitor closely and review control measures to make sure they are working well and there is nothing more or different you need to do.
Week 2: Psychological Hazards
The second week of National Safe Work Month is a deep dive into understanding psychological hazards at work and how to manage the risks.
Psychological hazards are anything that could cause psychological harm to someone’s mental health. They can also cause physical harm.
These hazards are created by:
- the design or management of work
- a work environment
- plant at the workplace
- workplace interactions or behaviours
In 2021 and 2022 there were 584,029 working weeks of time list from work due to serious claims for mental health conditions.
On Average, work-related psychological injuries have longer recovery times, higher costs, and require more time away from work.
On this second week we implore all employers and employees to take some time to look at
- Identifying psychological hazards
- Common Myths
- Controlling the risks and the importance of consultation
- Managing psychological hazards in practice.
Week 3: Risk Management Fundamentals
During week 3 of National Safety Month, w revisit Work Health & Safety fundamentals. Risk management is integral to a safe and healthy workplace.
This week, you are implored to dive deep into the three steps of recognizing risks (Identify and Assess, Control, Monitor and Review) that were outlined earlier.
There is an added emphasis on training and supported your workers to stay safe at work as under the WHS laws, workers must be provided with information, training, instruction or supervision to help them remain healthy and safe in the Workplace.
Week 4: Musculoskeletal injuries
The last week of National Safe Work Month is dedicated to musculoskeletal injuries. With these injuries accounting for half of all serious workers’ compensation claims in 2022-23, it is important to learn what they are and how to manage the risk of them.
What are Musculoskeletal injuries?
Musculoskeletal injuries are a broad term that refers to any injury, or disease related to the musculoskeletal system. The system is made up of muscles, bones, joints and connective tissues. Injuries related to the Musculoskeletal system can result from gradual wear and tear and/or sudden damage to these body parts.
Occupations that made up the largest share of MSI claims were:
- labourers (23%)
- community and personal service workers (22%)
- technicians and trades workers (16%)
- machinery operators and drivers (16%)
The industries which made up the largest share of MSI claims were:
- health care and social assistance (22%)
- construction (11%)
- manufacturing (10%)
Both physical and psychological hazards can cause MSI’s.
The importance of this month cannot be overstated and at Zaparas Lawyers we take this opportunity to further awareness on Work Health and Safety as see the effects these injuries can have daily. If you have been injured due to a workplace incident
At Zaparas Lawyers, we have over 40 years of experience in Workers’ Compensation Claims. Our WorkCover Lawyers will be able to maximise the benefits you receive.
Every claim is important to us. Our dedicated team of WorkCover specialists will approach your claim with skill, knowledge, and care. Your file will be conducted by a lawyer who specialises and has experience in WorkCover claims.
Our dedicated WorkCover Lawyers can guide you through the process and help make a claim for a benefit at the time you need it most.
We are committed to doing everything in our power to make the legal process as straightforward and stress-free as possible and we will fight to get the best outcome.