October: Safe Work Month – working together to create a safe and healthy workplace 

Throughout October we will be sharing with you information from Safe Work Australia’s National Safe Work Month campaign.  

 Week 1 – Working together to manage risks at work  

Week 2 – Working together to protect workers’ mental health  

Week 3 – Working together to support all workers  

Week 4 – Working together to create a safe and healthy workplace  

Week 4 – working together to create a safe and healthy workplace  

The future of work health and safety will need to account for the emergence of new technologies and forms of work, as well as constantly changing patterns and ways of working.  

Multiple businesses sharing one location, workers having more than one job, and an increase in gig work (short-term, temporary or independent contractors) are just some ways our workplaces are evolving. Climate-related risks such as heat, flooding and extreme weather events are increasingly likely to disrupt the normal operation of many businesses.  

AI and automation 

AI and automated technology can bring many benefits, including safer work and working environments. Rolling out new innovations will require consultation with workers and risk assessments to ensure workers are not exposed to new or existing WHS risks. The role of AI in relation to a task needs to be clearly communicated, making clear who retains responsibility for the risks associated with the task.  

Managing WHS risks in the green economy 

The drive to reduce carbon pollution emissions is creating significant changes within the Australian economy, including new industries, the use of new technologies, and changes to the way people work in existing sectors.   

Installation of rooftop solar panels, transitioning to battery-powered vehicles and changes to industrial machinery are some examples of how workplaces might be transformed, presenting WHS risks that must be managed. For example, the installation of solar panels on rooftops can expose workers to the risk of falling from height. Under the model WHS laws, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a primary duty to ensure the health and safety of workers and others at a workplace.   

WHS and hybrid work 

As more work is being performed from home than ever before, it is important to understand that WHS laws apply to home-based work just as they do to traditional settings like offices.  

The common hazards workers may be exposed to at home include poor workstation set-up, poor working environment, fatigue, and family and domestic violence. Home and living arrangements vary, and so do the risks. Consulting with workers is key to ensuring WHS risks at home are effectively managed.  

Further detail on the future of work health and safety can be found in The Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) Strategy 2023–2033, which sets a platform for delivering WHS improvements over the next decade.