Victorian employers and workers are being urged to slow down and put safety first in the lead up to the holidays, in a new campaign from WorkSafe Victoria.
Executive Director of Health and Safety at WorkSafe, Narelle Beer said the new Let’s Put 2021 Safely Behind Us campaign aimed to ensure health and safety was front-of-mind this festive season.
“It’s been another tough year for Victorians and many are eager to celebrate the end of it,” Dr Beer said.
“But the holiday excitement is never an excuse to rush work or neglect safety regulations, which too often leads to workplace tragedy,” she said.
“Whether it’s the construction industry seeking to finish jobs before the Christmas shutdown, or the manufacturing sector swamped with last-minute orders, the end of the year makes for a busy and potentially dangerous time at work.”
Dr Beer said that, from 2018 to 2020, 24 people lost their lives in workplace incidents in the final two months of the year.
The Executive Director said the campaign encouraged employers to think about what systems and procedures were in place to protect workers and ensure they entered the New Year safely.
“Cutting corners and taking safety shortcuts can be fatal,” she said.
“Don’t let these holidays turn to tragedy because of a rush to complete work.”
Dr Beer urged employers to ensure that both new and longstanding staff were adequately trained or refreshed on how to perform their job safely, “especially after emerging from lockdown”.
She also stressed the importance of mentally healthy workplaces, saying that a positive work environment was particularly important during the festive season, where staff may feel overwhelmed by a surge in consumer demand and increased workloads.
“It is crucial employers maintain a supportive workplace, especially during the holiday season,” she said.
“This includes ensuring employees have a safe workload, are listened to and treated with respect,” Dr Beer said.
