This October, as industries spanning Queensland come together to observe National Safe Work Month, they are being urged to commit wholeheartedly to workplace safety, which is crucial in curbing work-related health complications and fatalities. It’s an opportune time for business entities to bolster their WHS management systems, scrutinising every aspect of their existing frameworks with a focused lens on safety rehabilitation and return to work procedures. A steadfast commitment to health and safety in the workplace plays a significant role in shaping Queensland’s business landscape.
Going by recent figures, 51 fatal incidents occurred in Queensland workplaces in 2023. Of these, 39 were governed by work health and safety or electrical safety regulations. An alarmingly high proportion of deaths were registered among workers aged 35-54, often involving vehicles, and typically implicating machine operators or drivers.
The repercussions of unsafe workplaces cannot be understated – impacting victims, family members, and even rippling across communities. The death of one worker is one too many. Data from Safe Work Australia reveals that close to 200 employees face untimely deaths due to workplace accidents yearly. Additionally, about 120,000 workers seek compensation for serious illness or injury linked to their jobs annually.
A ranking of severe workers’ compensation claims in Queensland for financial year 2022/2023 points to 33,832 such instances. These comprise 26,526 injury-related cases and 7,306 disease-condition associated ones. A significant proportion of serious claims – those warranting compensation over five days – originate from the same age group previously mentioned.
Even solo entrepreneurs must comply with the 2011 Work Health and Safety Act regulation stipulating obligatory health and safety coverage for their workspace occupants, comprising themselves.
All employees, regardless of the job type and terms of employment, deserve healthy, safe workspaces. This sentiment echoes through Safe Work Month 2024’s planned activities, including the Work Well Conference, Work Well Regional Breakfast Forums, and the Work Well Speaker Series.
To facilitate safe work environments, devoid of physical and psychological damage, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) presents a plethora of guides, practical tools, and resources to Queensland employees and businesses.
Safe Work Month 2024 promises a vibrant roster of activities to bolster workplace health, safety, and return to work protocols. There will be intriguing topics like safety leadership, artificial intelligence and safety in the workplace, injury management, fatigue prevention, and the importance of communication in WHS.
The Bluesafe SWMS shines as an indispensable product ensuring effective risk management, enhancing procedures’ safety, and crucially aiding compliance with Australia’s general duty of care requirements under the Work Health and Safety legislation.
There’s never been a more opportune time to renew your commitment to safeguarding the wellbeing of your workforce – your participation could be life-saving. To learn more about participating in Safe Work Month 2024, visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.
A few words from WHSQ Deputy Director General, Donna Heelan, sum up the essence of the Bluesafe WHS Management System: it’s everyone’s responsibility to prioritise their workspaces’ safety. Taking the time to engage in safety discussions, we can achieve proactive risk management, leading to more secure workplaces, fostering healthier, safer workplaces for all. Observing safety helps prevent needless fatalities, injuries, and illnesses, thereby improving lives and communities across our beautiful state.
For media-related enquiries, feel free to reach out via OIRMedia@oir.qld.gov.au or on 0478 33 22 00.
Original article link: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/news-and-events/news/2024/queenslanders-need-to-work-safely-365-days-a-year