This year’s theme, Work Health and Safety through COVID-19, acknowledges and reflects the wide-reaching impact of COVID-19 on Australian workplaces.

Get involved

National Safe Work Month is a time to build awareness of work health and safety, encourage discussion about safety at work and share best practice.

Executive Director SafeWork SA, Martyn Campbell encourages workplaces and workers to take part in National Safe Work Month and show their ongoing commitment to actively improve health and safety in the workplace.

“Individuals, their families and the broader community are all impacted by work-related injury and illness. Last year in Australia around 180 people died while doing their job. In 2017-18 107,000 people made a workers’ compensation claim for serious injury or illness.

Everyone has the right to be safe at work and there is more that can be done. Together we can create a safe workplace for everyone, through COVID-19 and beyond.”

This is why, during October each year, we ask businesses, employers and workers to get more involved in National Safe Work Month and commit to building safe and healthy workplaces.”

A program of webinars, digital tools and resources focusing on work health and safety will be available across the month on our website and social media channels. See our National Safe Work Month schedule for information on how to register.

Our website has promotional resources to help your workplace get into the safety spirit and promote National Safe Work Month within your business and online.

Organise your own workplace activity

SafeWork SA are once again holding their organise your own workplace activity encouraging workplaces to hold a health and safety activity relevant to your workplace throughout the month.

If you register your activity with SafeWork SA your workplace will go into the running for up to $3000 in South Australian prizes. The competition runs for the month of October but workplaces can register their activity anytime up until 31 October 2020.

Last year’s competition saw more than 40 South Australian businesses registering events, with six businesses receiving awards and recognition for their originality and workplace engagement as they championed safety.

Health and Safety Awards

$25,000 in grants was made available in 2020, with more than 20 applications received for innovative solutions and projects to improve the health and safety of young workers and women in workplaces.

SafeWork SA established the annual awards in recognition of the work done by Augusta Zadow in the late 1800s in gaining health safety rights for women and young workers that we now take for granted.

Recipients of the coveted Augusta Zadow Awards 2020 will be announced at a presentation event to be held on Monday 12 October.

For further information on how you and your workplace can get involved visit SafeWork SA’s website for resources, ideas and free events.

Mr Campbell said National Safe Work Month is an opportunity to ensure work health and safety remains a top priority.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every Australian workplace and presents a range of complex work health and safety challenges, including risks to physical and mental health.

“National Safe Work Month is a time to build awareness of work health and safety, encourage discussion about safety at work and share best practice.

“A safe and healthy workplace is for everyone. Individuals, their families and the broader community are all impacted by work-related injury and illness.

“Whatever the work environment, as we face the challenge of COVID-19, good work health and safety practices and risk management are more important than ever.”

“Every organisation, industry and workplace can champion work health and safety by joining National Safe Work Month during October.

“Together, we can create a safe workplace for everyone, through COVID-19 and beyond.”