Released 01/10/2023
Each October, National Safe Work Month provides an opportunity to focus on the importance of fostering a strong safety culture in the workplace to reduce work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety, Mick Gentleman said the ACT Government is committed to improving workplace safety and standing up for the rights of all workers at every workplace.
“We want to continue to foster healthy and safe working environments in the ACT,” Minister Gentleman said.
“Safety at work is a priority every day but National Work Safe Month is an opportunity to further highlight it, and in turn, strengthen workplace safety across the ACT.
Over the past 18 months, the ACT Government has progressed a range of legislative changes and reforms to improve workplace safety in the ACT, including:
- taking steps to better address workplace violence by introducing a new requirement on businesses and employers to report sexual assault incidents to our work safety regulator, WorkSafe ACT
- adding industrial manslaughter as the fourth and most serious offence under our WHS laws and ensuring businesses are not able to take out insurance against WHS fines and penalties if they breach their WHS obligations
- introducing a suite of silica safety reforms to better address the risks of exposure to silica dust at work
- introducing two new work health and safety codes of practice commencing in November 2023 in the ACT to assist businesses and better protect our workers, namely a code for managing psychosocial hazards at work and a second code for managing the risks of silica dust at work
"Everyone has the right to a safe workplace and businesses have an important role to play in creating in this” Minister Gentleman said.
During Safe Work Month, the Work Health and Safety Regulator, WorkSafe ACT, also has a number of activities planned and everyone is encouraged to check their website for more details.
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases