World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual event observed globally on April 28th. This day is marked to promote the prevention of occupational accidents. Highlighting the need to create a safe and healthy work environment for workers across the world. The theme for this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work is “A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work”, the day also coincides with Workers’ Memorial Day with the very real theme: ‘Remember the dead, fight for the living’.
In Australia, Safe Work Australia is leading the charge to promote safe and healthy workplaces. The agency has launched a campaign to promote the importance of good work design in reducing workplace accidents and illnesses. Good work design involves designing workplaces, work processes, and systems that promote the health, safety, and well-being of workers while ensuring that they can perform their jobs effectively.
According to Safe Work Australia, work-related accidents and illnesses cost the Australian economy billions of dollars each year. In 2022 alone, there were 169 work-related fatalities, and over 130,195 workers were seriously injured. These numbers highlight the need for employers to prioritise worker safety and health.
Are you looking to participate in World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2023?
- We urge everyone to acknowledge the significance of workplace health and safety by promoting World Day and Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28, 2023.
- You can get involved by downloading our co-brandable resources to spread awareness in your workplace. Our resources include a poster, desktop wallpaper, and video call background. Share your awareness-raising content on social media using our social tile and the hashtags #WorldWHSDay2023 #SafeDay2023 #IWMD2023.
- Additionally, you can attend a virtual Workers’ Memorial Day event to show your support. To further your knowledge on the importance of a safe and healthy workplace, you can explore our resources or arrange for a safety expert to speak in your workplace.
Safe Work Australia is urging employers to invest in good work design and safety programs to prevent workplace accidents and illnesses. This involves implementing strategies that anticipate, prepare, and respond to crisis situations, such as accidents, pandemics or natural disasters. Employers must also provide their workers with the necessary training, equipment, and resources to perform their jobs safely.
Safe Work Australia is urging employers to make worker safety and health a top priority on World Day for Safety and Health at Work. To achieve this, employers should adopt good work design practices, which can help build resilient OSH systems and promote safer and healthier workplaces. This not only benefits workers but also contributes to the success of businesses. By collaborating and implementing these practices, we can strive to create a world where all workers return home safely at the end of their workday.
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