2010 Brings New Safety Resolutions

WorkSafe has called on Victorian employers and workers to make a concerted effort to create safe workplaces this year.

Victoria recorded 30 deaths in 2009, up from 21 in 2008. The 2009 toll is the highest since 2002 when 34 people died from workplace related incidents.

Two-thirds of the Eight of the workplace related deaths in 2009 were in agriculture, accounting for two-thirds of the total number of deaths recorded. The construction and manufacturing industries recorded six and five deaths respectively, while others were in road transport, retail trade, services, tree felling and firefighting.

While agriculture and construction have made considerable improvement in reducing fatalities in recent years, they made up half the total number of deaths though representing just 15 per cent of the workforce.

WorkSafe’s acting Executive Director, Kath Duane, said workplace safety improvements had to begin in every workplace today.

“January, along with March and November, is among the most dangerous months of the year with each recording 36 deaths over the past decade,” Ms Duane said.

“Is it complacency, people taking shortcuts or not concentrating on what they should be doing after a holiday? We don’t know. What is known is that simple steps, particularly in the first few weeks of 2010 will make a difference to individuals, families and businesses.”

New workplace safety resolutions for 2010 will require boards, company directors, employers, supervisors and workers alike to commit to safer workplace practices.

“They may commit to always using fall protection when working at height; they’ll commit to consultation, guarding machines, better plan work so safety shortcuts aren’t taken. If they’re farmers they’ll make sure tractors and quad bikes are used safely,” Ms Duane said.

Ms Duane said that new safety resolutions should see workers and employers making to effort to review existing work practices to see if they’re consistent with current standards.

Visit WorkSafe to make your workplace more safe and kick start your 2010 new year’s safety resolution.