As Victorians gear up to celebrate the end of another big year, WorkSafe Victoria has reminded employers in a new campaign not to relax on safety in the final weeks of 2022.
Executive Director of Health and Safety at WorkSafe, Narelle Beer said that while some people may be tempted to cut corners, “it is never worth the cost when it comes to workplace safety”.
Dr Beer said WorkSafe’s holiday safety campaign Let’s Put 2022 Safely Behind Us aimed to ensure health and safety remained the top priority at all Victorian workplaces throughout the festive season.
“From 2018 to 2021, 28 people lost their lives and 15,168 injury claims were accepted by WorkSafe in the final two months of the year,” Dr Beer said.
“Every death and injury was preventable.”
She said mentally healthy work environments were paramount, especially during the holiday period when staff may be feeling overwhelmed, isolated or anxious.
“Although the tail end of the year is known to be frenetic, it’s unacceptable to burden workers with unreasonable workloads or expose them to violence or aggression,” the Executive Director said.
“From 2018-2021, more than 1,800 mental injury claims were accepted by WorkSafe in the final two months of the year.”
Dr Beer said the stressful time of year could also lead to a higher incidence of occupational violence and aggression towards retail and hospitality workers.
The construction industry has faced a number of challenges this year including supply shortages, prolonged wet weather and flooding.
However, Dr Beer said while these factors may have delayed construction projects, there was still no excuse to rush.
“While there’s an eagerness to have renovations and new builds completed before Christmas, this should never be achieved by compromising safety standards or a worker’s wellbeing,” she said.
“Let’s prioritise health and safety at work so these holidays are a celebration to remember, not a time to regret.”
