World Day for Safety and Health at Work

, , ,

take the lead

Safe Work Australia will recognise World Day for Safety and Health at Work on Friday 28 April 2017.

This is also Workers’ Memorial Day – a day when we honour those who have died at work. It’s a day to think about how our actions can prevent future work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses.

Australia’s work-related fatality rates have been steadily trending downwards, but 178 workers still lost their lives in 2016. By raising awareness and taking the lead in work health and safety, you can help prevent further injuries and death.

How to get involved

First of all, you can take the lead in workplace health and safety by always practicing good work health and safety. On April 28, you might consider getting involved with one of the following ideas:

  • Honour the memory of those who have died at work by stopping for a moment of silence or attend a local workers’ memorial event with your colleagues.
  • Promote World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day in your workplace. You can use #worldWHSday2017 when participating in discussions on social media.
  • Organise a morning or afternoon on the day tea to talk about work health and safety.
  • Arrange for a safety expert to speak at your workplace.
  • Screen a seminar from the Virtual Seminar Series at your workplace.
  • Display promotional posters in your workplace to raise awareness.

Resources

A4 Poster

Website Banner

Social Media Meme

About

Workers’ Memorial Day has been organised worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996. Its purpose is to honour the memory of victims of occupational accidents and diseases, and organise worldwide awareness campaigns on this date.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has observed the World Day on Safety and Health at Work to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally since 2003. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health and on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities worldwide.

Details for local workers’ memorial events are available on the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) website or your local state or territory regulator websites.

For further information on World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2017, visit the International Labour Organization website.