Safe Work Australia Week (SWAW) will be held this year on 19th to 25th October — a week driven by the federal government to express the importance of creating safety awareness and action.
More than 140,000 people are seriously injured and over 250 people die annually owing to work-related incidents, with many more dying if we account for long term diseases, says Safety In Australia, a group dedicated to workplace safety and supported by the Australian Safety & Compensation Council (ASCC).
SWAW encourages organisations to drive safety campaigns throughout their facilities and encourage their people to get involved in safety activities. It also promoted inventions and initiatives in safety.
The construction industry will be targeted in particular during SWAW. Representing 9 per cent of the Australian workforce, this industry still accounts for a large proportion of work-related accidents in the country. While the incident rate had fallen 27 per cent from 1997 to 1998 compared with 2004 to 2005, figures remain well above Australia’s average rate, according to ASCC.
During 2004 to 2005, the construction industry represented the third highest incident rate of all industries, said the ASCC. Further, during 2005 to 2006, muscular stress (e.g. manual handling/repetitive movement) accounted for 36 per cent of claims, while the fatality rate for the same period was twice the Australian average, the ASCC reported.
Other coverage provided by the ASCC are as follows:
“Manufacturing industry: represented 11 per cent of the Australian workforce and whilst the incidence rate had fallen 18 per cent from 97-98 to 04-05, figures remain nearly twice Australia’s rate. In 2004-05 it had the highest incidence rate of all industries.
“Mining industry: represented 1 per cent of the Australian workforce and whilst the incidence rate had fallen 18 per cent from 97-98 to 04-05, figures remain well above Australia’s rate.
“Transport and storage industry: represented 5 per cent of the Australian workforce and whilst the incidence rate had fallen 18 per cent from 97-98 to 04-05, figures remain well above Australia’s rate. In 2004-05 it had the second highest incidence rate of all industries.”
The Safety Conference will be held in Sydney from October 28th to 30th 2008, incorporating research, workshops and case studies relating to safety in the workplace.
For more information, visit the Australian Safety & Compensation Council’s website at www.ascc.gov.au, visit Safety In Australia’s website at www.safetyinaustralia.com.au, or for more information about The Safety Conference, visit www.siaconference.com.au/content/program/Safety_Conference_Sydney_2008