Workplace Safety Integral In The Lead Up To Christmas

Worksafe is calling on employers and workers to take a zero-tolerance approach to safety issues in the weeks leading up to Christmas due to the staggeringly high work-related death toll.

Victoria’s work-related death toll is at its highest for this time of the year since 2001.

The number of Victorians who have died in traumatic circumstances at work this year rose to 25 following the recent death of a man near Mansfield.

According to WorkSafe Executive Director John Merrit, pressure to complete work before holidays and the build up to the busiest time of year for certain industries can increase the risk of work related injuries and fatalities.

“Whether you’re in construction where jobs have to be finished before a lengthy summer shutdown or retailing, warehousing and road transport which are becoming increasingly busy, now is the time to ensure high safety standards are applied,” Mr Merrit said.

There have been seven work-related deaths in Victoria since the start of October – the same figure for the last three months of 2008.

Mr Merritt said the seven recent deaths and recent serious incidents were signs that employers and workers had to do more to make workplaces safer.

“Unless a tougher-minded approach is taken to safety at the business level our death and injury toll will continue to spiral upwards at the cost of the entire community”.

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