Safe Work Australia has released a new set of data ahead of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day later this month (28 April).
In a statement, Safe Work Australia said that while its data revealed that 194 workers were fatally injured at work in 2020, the dual event provided an opportunity to reflect on how to prevent occupational deaths, injuries, diseases and illnesses.
“By raising awareness of the importance of health and safety in the workplace, Australian workplaces can implement an effective and preventative approach to work health and safety, and ultimately save lives,” Safe Work Australia said.
“The theme set by the International Labour Organisation for this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work is ‘act together to build a positive safety and health culture’,” it said.
Safe Work said the theme encouraged workplaces to foster a strong work health and safety culture in which everyone contributed to a safe and healthy working environment.
“Australian workplaces are continuously changing, evolving and adapting due to a range of global factors — some within and some out of our control,” it said.
“There is no better example of this than the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic had, and continues to have, on workplaces across all industries.”
Safe Work said employers and workers had to adapt their work health and safety practices and procedures to keep them and their customers safe.
“Navigating the ever-changing circumstances of the pandemic has emphasised the importance of work health and safety and a workplace culture that values safety,” Safe Work Australia said.
