Healthier Work ACT

18/11/2024

Welcome to the Healthier Work recognition program Barnardos Australia - Canberra!

30/10/2024

To round out National Safe Work Month, this week we are looking at health and safety representatives (HSRs) and their role in promoting safe workplaces.



HSRs are workers elected to represent the health and safety interests of their work group.



Any worker can request that the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) facilitate the election of an HSR to represent them on work health and safety matters.



The role of the HSR includes consulting with the PCBU on behalf of workers to ensure that any identified WHS issues are addressed and that the measures taken comply with work health and safety legislation.



Throughout the week, we will publish a Fact Sheet and Checklist to help everyone better understand the roles and responsibilities of HSRs and PCBUs.



On 30 October we will host a breakfast for our HSR community—an opportunity to engage with the community and explore how we can further support HSRs.

See our Safe Work Month webpage for full details here: https://www.worksafe.act.gov.au/about-worksafe-act/safe-work-month-2024

This Safe Work Month we are raising funds for LifeLine, you can donate here: https://worksafeact-mentalhealthmonth.gofundraise.com.au/

28/10/2024

If your workplace is closed over the holiday period (or any other period in the year), your employer may be able to direct you to take annual leave.

Awards and enterprise agreements can allow employers to direct employees to take annual leave during shutdown periods, but there’s usually rules about how much notice you should be given and what happens if you haven’t got enough annual leave.

Use our drop-down tool to check what applies under your award or find out how to check your enterprise agreement: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/annual-leave/directing-an-employee-to-take-annual-leave/direction-to-take-annual-leave-during-a-shut-down

24/10/2024

Week 3 of National focused on risk management fundamentals, a key component of the WHS fundamentals.

Proactive risk management ensures a healthy and safe work environment for everyone. All you need to do is:

– identify hazards and assess risks 📝
– control risks ✅
– monitor and review. 🦺

🔦Find out more at – https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month/week-3

Week 4 of National starts tomorrow and will look at musculoskeletal injuries and how to effectively manage the risk of harm.

🔦Find out more about week 4 at – https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month/week-4

Safety is everyone’s business! 🚧

21/10/2024

14/10/2024

This week’s theme is “Know the risks”.

Managing risks is key to a safe workplace—it’s about identifying hazards and how likely they are to cause harm.

We’ll look at how to manage risks and share data on what’s causing the most workers’ compensation claims in the ACT. WorkSafe ACT will also be visiting businesses to provide checklists and support.

07/10/2024

Safety Starts Small: This week, we are looking at small business.

There are 34,000 private businesses in the ACT, with 97% of them employing 20 people or fewer. Running a small business can be tough, as competing priorities and limited resources demand time and energy.

As a small business operator, it’s essential to understand your work health and safety and workers compensation responsibilities, identify risks, and control hazards in your workplace.

To assist, WorkSafe ACT has published a Small Business Checklist, which you can find here:https://www.worksafe.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/2583604/Small-business-checklist-final_1.pdf

This checklist highlights key considerations necessary for maintaining a safe small business. If you answer ‘no’ to any of the questions, you should take action to learn more.

This Safe Work Month, we are raising funds for Lifeline. You can donate here: https://worksafeact-mentalhealthmonth.gofundraise.com.au/

04/10/2024

Today we’re shining the on training and supporting workers which is a WHS fundamental 🔦

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:
🎓 providing training to new workers before they start working
📄 keeping your induction up to date with safety information
👷‍♂️ providing close supervision until your workers gain competence
❓ being patient as your workers learn – encourage questions
🗣️ asking for feedback on information you provide – is it meeting your workers' needs?
🦺 making sure workers have what they need to do the job safely and well.

Learn more about how you can support your workers on our website- https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month/week-1

30/09/2024

National Safe Work Month has arrived!

This year’s theme highlights that effective workplace safety is an ongoing process, built on knowledge and engagement.

🔹 Week 1: Fundamentally Safe – We’ll release a WHS essentials factsheet and FAQs, addressing workers’ compensation and challenges faced by CALD workers, with translations in Simplified Chinese, Nepali, Vietnamese, and Punjabi.

🔹 Week 2: Safety Starts Small – We’ll visit small businesses across the ACT, distributing a new checklist to help meet WHS obligations.

🔹 Week 3: Know the Risks – Our Data Snapshot will dive into key causes of serious workplace injuries in the ACT.

🔹 Week 4: Know WorkSafe – Join us at a Bunnings BBQ to meet WorkSafe inspectors, ask questions, and support LifeLine.

🔹 Week 5: Working Together – At our Industry Breakfast, we’ll introduce the new HSR Toolkit and discuss how HSRs support workplace safety.

Visit our Safe Work Month webpage for more information: https://www.worksafe.act.gov.au/about-worksafe-act/safe-work-month-2024

This Safe Work Month we are raising funds for LifeLine, you can donate here: https://worksafeact-mentalhealthmonth.gofundraise.com.au/

30/09/2024

National starts tomorrow! 👷🏽‍♀️

This National , all Australians are encouraged to make safety their business.

This year’s National theme, safety is everyone’s business, highlights the collective benefit of safe work practices to everyone in the workplace, reinforcing WHS as a fundamental principle and right. Our weekly topics are:

• Week 1 – WHS fundamentals
• Week 2 – Psychosocial hazards
• Week 3 – Risk management fundamentals
• Week 4 – Musculoskeletal injuries

The National website has practical resources for each week, and there is a customisable campaign kit and resources to support your events or activities for the month- https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month