Promoting Health and Safety in the Workplace - October is National Safe Work Month!

National Safe Work Month is nearly upon us again. Consider using it as a time to recommit to making safer and healthier workplaces for all. The theme for 2017 is 'Sharing safety knowledge and experience benefits everyone'.

According to Safe Work Australia, since 2008 there has been a steady decline in the rate of work-related fatalities and workers' compensation claims. However, it is estimated that work-related injury and disease cost the Australian community $61.8 billion a year. This figure includes both direct and indirect costs: workers' compensation premiums, compensation payments to injured or incapacitated workers, loss of productivity, current and future earnings, potential output, and the cost of providing social welfare programs for injured or incapacitated workers. [Source Safe Work Australia].

No workplace should be unsafe to work in and no death or injury is acceptable. The whole community bears the financial cost of poorly managed health and safety and we know that safe and healthy work benefits everyone.

For details on how to take part in this initiative, go to the Safe Work Australia website: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month/take-part

To discover events that are happening in your region go to: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month/events-your-region

HAZCON can assist you in promoting health and safety in your workplace by sharing our experience and knowledge by:

• Providing tailored health and safety training for Managers, Workers and Health and Safety Representatives;
• Presenting at Board Meetings, Health and Safety Committee meetings and Tool Box Talks on a range of health and safety topics relevant to your industry;
• Delivering time efficient Web based training to your staff on identified areas of need;
• Undertaking special projects related to health and safety management systems and occupational hygiene as part of raising awareness, and establishing the level of maturity of your systems to support your drive for continual improvement.

For further details please contact HAZCON on 1800 429 266.