Running a small business means juggling a lot of priorities, but keeping people safe at work should always be one of them. National Safe Work Month is an opportunity to pause, reflect on your workplace risks, and take simple steps to ensure safe and healthy work.
Held each October, National Safe Work Month encourages workplaces across Australia to prioritise work health and safety (WHS) and take action to reduce work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities. The 2026 theme, Safe work is for life, highlights that WHS is about more than preventing harm in the moment – it’s about protecting workers’ lives, health and future.
Why it matters
Our latest data shows that in 2024, 188 workers in Australia were fatally injured at work. There were also 146,700 serious workers’ compensation claims in 2023-24p – more than 400 serious claims a day across Australia. The people and stories behind these numbers are a reminder not to be complacent. No job should be unsafe, and no workplace death or injury is acceptable.
For small business, creating a safe workplace does not have to be complicated. Genuine consultation, identifying risks early, and making practical improvements can have a meaningful impact for workers, their families and your business.
Easy ways to get involved
📃Download free resources
Use our campaign kit to promote National Safe Work Month in your workplace. The kit includes posters, digital assets, activity sheets and other practical tools to help you raise awareness and start conversations about safety as you plan for National Safe Work Month.
🌱Start small
Choose one or 2 simple actions during October, like talking with your workers about a key WHS risk, reviewing a procedure, refreshing signage, or sharing a safety message with your team. Small steps can help build a stronger safety culture over time.
📋Use October to plan ahead
National Safe Work Month is also a good time to think about the year ahead. Consider what is working well in your business, where improvements could be made, and what practical actions will help keep safety front of mind beyond October.
Stay updated
We’ll keep updating our website with more information and resources to help small businesses take part in National Safe Work Month. Subscribe to our emails and follow us on social media for the latest campaign news and resources.