The definitive guide to planning a SafeTea event this National Safe Work Month! Print it out and bring everyone together to make safety: every job, every day a reality in October and beyond. 

Come up with your own questions and prompts to start the WHS conversation with a customisable version of our discussion dice. 

Get the WHS conversation started at your SafeTea event this National Safe Work Month by rolling the discussion dice!

Use our SafeTea decorations on your cups, mugs or as coasters at your SafeTea event this National Safe Work Month!

Promote safety: every job, every day this National Safe Work Month with our desktop wallpapers for your laptop or PC. 

Promote safety: every job, every day this National Safe Work Month with our desktop wallpapers for your laptop or PC. 

Represent National Safe Work Month in your Teams, Zoom or Webex calls with our safety: every job, every day video call backgrounds!

Represent National Safe Work Month in your Teams, Zoom or Webex calls with our safety: every job, every day video call backgrounds!

Represent National Safe Work Month in your Teams, Zoom or Webex calls with our safety: every job, every day video call backgrounds!

Use our social media tiles on your own channels to promote Safety: every job, every day this National Safe Work Month. 

Use our social media tiles on your own channels to promote Safety: every job, every day this National Safe Work Month. 

Use our collection of posters to promote National Safe Work Month in your workplace this October. 

Use our collection of posters to promote National Safe Work Month in your workplace this October. 

Use our collection of posters to promote National Safe Work Month in your workplace this October. 

Use our collection of posters to promote National Safe Work Month in your workplace this October. 

Use our collection of posters to promote National Safe Work Month in your workplace this October. 

Use these email banners to promote National Safe Work Month right from your inbox!

Use these email banners to promote National Safe Work Month right from your inbox!

Use these email banners to promote National Safe Work Month right from your inbox!

Put your WHS knowledge to the test this National Safe Work Month with our crossword puzzle! Browse our website to solve the clues and check the answers when you're done. 

Get creative and spread the message of Safety: every job, every day this October with our National Safe Work Month colouring in sheets!

Get creative and spread the message of Safety: every job, every day this October with our National Safe Work Month colouring in sheets!

Across

6. Someone who represents workers on WHS matters (abbr.) (3) – HSR

8. Anything that can cause harm (6) – hazard

10. "Model Code of ____", provides practical WHS guidance (8) – Practice

October is National Safe Work Month – a time to commit to building safe and healthy workplaces for all Aus

Read the plain text version of this issue

Did you know that musculoskeletal injuries are the most common type of injury in Australian workplaces?

In Week 3 of National Safe Work Month, we unpack risk management fundamentals, a key component of the WHS fundamentals covered in Week 1.

Workers’ compensation claims for injuries resulting from psychosocial hazards at work are increasing.   In total, serious claims for mental health conditions in 2021-22 resulted in 584,029 working weeks of time lost from work.  

This National Safe Work Month, Safe Work Australia is encouraging all Australians to make safety their business.

National Safe Work Month is held every October and provides an opportunity for workplaces across Australia to recognise the importance of work health and safety.

Controlling psychosocial risks

In deciding how to control psychosocial risks, you must consider:

Effective consultation with workers improves decision-making about health and safety matters and assists in reducing work-related injuries and illness. 

Myths about psychosocial hazards

To control the risk from poor support your workplace can:

You must provide your workers with information, training and instruction or supervision to help them stay safe at work. New and inexperienced workers are particularly at risk.

Support your workers by:

Common psychosocial hazards include:

Myth: 

"Young workers don’t get serious injuries at work".

Fact: 

What are the WHS fundamentals?

This week gets back to basics by unpacking the fundamentals of WHS that everyone should know.

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) are a broad term that refers to any injury to, or disease of, the musculoskeletal system.

They can include: 

Myths about musculoskeletal injuries

• Training in lifting will prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
• Only physical hazards can cause musculoskeletal injuries.

Fact about musculoskeletal injuries

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What are musculoskeletal injuries?

Musculoskeletal injuries are a broad term that refers to any injury to, or disease of, the musculoskeletal system.

What does genuine consultation with your workers look like?

Top 5 injuries in small businesses

Did you know?

Workers in small businesses are not immune to risk of injury or illness.

Between 2017-18 and 2021-22p*

Risk management in small business

Make sure you have ways for workers to report hazards in the workplace.

A small business, with lower risks, might have:

Safety Spotlight - Working from home

Health and safety representatives can:

A risk assessment helps you understand how severe the risks are and what you need to do to manage them. Just follow these steps:

Myths: 

"Risk management is just a tick and flick exercise."

"I work in an office and there are no risks in my workplace.:

In 2023, 200 people lost their lives at work. There were also 139,000 serious workers’ compensation claims for injuries and illnesses.