Week 4 - Inside and Out - National Safe Work Month

This page provides information to support week 4 of National Safe Work Month: Inside and Out.

Be safe: inside and out is about hazards in the workplace such as weather, bushfire smoke and UVR exposure outside and MSDs, confined spaces and COVID-19 exposure inside.

This includes identifying and managing the workplace hazards which can cause harm to workers, wherever they work. PCBUs must eliminate or minimise workplace risks to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their workers.

This October, think safe, work safe and be safe and manage the hazards at your workplace.

Be Safe.

This week for National Safe Work Month, we are focusing on workplace hazards, both inside and out. 

A workplace hazard is anything in the design or management of work that has the potential to cause injury to a person or persons. It doesn’t matter where you work - in an office, in a vehicle, or outside – there are potential work health and safety hazards in all workplaces that need to be managed. 

PCBUs must eliminate or minimise workplace risks to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their workers. Safe Work Australia has guidance material to assist you to meet your health and safety duty – no matter where you work.

Some important things to remember for all workplaces:

  • Mental health is a workplace hazard that must be managed.
  • When doing work that requires lifting or manual handling, there are procedures that must be followed to limit the risk of serious injury.
  • The latest WES (workplace exposure standards) must be followed, and all practicable measures put in place to limit the damage caused by limited ventilation, gas leaks and airborne hazardous chemicals. 
  • To operate successfully in this changed world, businesses need to effectively manage and minimise risks to health and safety from COVID-19. This includes hand hygiene, cleaning workspaces, masks and ventilation. 
  • If you work with hazardous chemicals, you must be aware of the HCIS and how to safely and correctly label them in accordance with the laws – know the adoption of the GHS 7 and what the requirements are. 

When working inside, or in a vehicle, hazards can be present including:

Working outside can present hazards including: 

Read our Working outside case study.

Supporting information

Safe Work Australia has developed a range of resources to assist PCBU’s and workers in understanding their WHS responsibilities, identifying risks and managing control measures to reduce the risks. 

Guides and information/infosheets

Infographics

Find out more

Multimedia

Talk to your WHS regulator for more information specific to your state or territory.