Launching Work Safe Week (October 27-31) which includes more than 120 seminars, briefings and events across the state, WorkSafe’s Executive Director, Health and Safety, John Merritt, said employers and workers needed to do more to ensure high safety standards were consistently applied.
“The community generally understands the need not to speed or drink-drive, it needs to understand that there are consequences of unsafe workplaces," he says.
"Figures released recently show that Victoria experienced less than 30,000 workplace injury claims last financial year with 16 deaths and 77 life-threatening injuries."
"Seventeen deaths have been reported to WorkSafe since 1 January."
“The effect of this is that people and families are affected by pain and suffering that is largely avoidable, while business activity is diverted into dealing with the injury and the many human and commercial consequences of it."
“With 12 cases before the courts this week WorkSafe is serious about enforcing the law, but before we get to that point we take a constructive and practical approach to help people meet their obligations so that legal measures are not needed," says Merritt.
“In a changing economy, everyone needs a clear understanding about what they need to do to ensure the job gets done with as little risk as possible."
"Work Safe Week is your passport to getting the most out of your work or business.”
More than 80 events will be held at the Melbourne Museum and another 40 are being staged around the suburbs and regional areas.
“Work Safe Week provides people with skills and knowledge that can be taken back to their workplace to help keep themselves and their workmates safe," Merritt says.
“Workplace safety should always be a priority, but Work Safe Week is an opportunity for workers and management to review known and potential safety issues and find out what can be done to deal with them.”
A comprehensive list of Work Safe Week activities can be found online at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au.
* Claims where a person has been off work 10 days or more and / or incurred treatment and rehabilitation costs exceeding $500.
Public inquiries: Call the WorkSafe Advisory Service on 1800-136-089 between 8:30am and 5pm Monday to Friday, email info@workcover.vic.gov.au or write to Advisory Service, PO Box 4306, Melbourne, 3001.
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