Safe Work Australia - Work Health and Safety Strategy 2022-2032
Safe Work Australia has released it's Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) Strategy 2023-2033 is a comprehensive guide that outlines a national vision for work health and safety in Australia. The purpose of this strategy is to provide a platform for delivering key WHS improvements over the next ten years.
The report contains information on the persistent and emerging challenges in the field of work health and safety, as well as the enablers, actions, and system-wide shifts required to achieve the primary goal of safe and healthy work for all. The document highlights that while significant progress has been made in improving work health and safety in Australia, there are still persistent challenges such as workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses that need to be addressed.
The strategy also identifies emerging challenges such as new technologies, changing work arrangements, and mental health issues that require attention. To address these challenges, the strategy outlines a range of enablers such as leadership, culture, capability building, research and evaluation, regulation and enforcement.
The document also sets out national targets to measure progress towards achieving the primary goal of safe and healthy work for all. These targets include:
- reducing the number of workplace fatalities by 20%
- reducing the incidence rate of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work by at least 30%
- reducing the incidence rate of claims for musculoskeletal disorders by at least 30%, among others.
To achieve these targets, the strategy outlines specific actions that need to be taken across different sectors such as agriculture, construction, healthcare, transport among others. These actions include developing new regulations or guidelines where necessary; improving data collection; increasing awareness about WHS issues; promoting research into emerging risks; providing training programs; among others.
The document also highlights the role of Safe Work Australia in promoting work health and safety in Australia. Safe Work Australia is responsible for developing national policy on WHS matters; conducting research into WHS issues; providing guidance on best practices; and promoting awareness about WHS issues.
Overall, this report serves as an essential resource for anyone interested in understanding work health and safety in Australia. It provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges, targets, enablers, and actions required to achieve the primary goal of safe and healthy work for all.
The information presented in this report supports Worx's mission to promote safer working conditions in Australia, highlighting how digital safety management systems like Worx can effectively assist businesses in managing their WHS risks. By utilising such systems, businesses can streamline their WHS processes, minimize paperwork, and enhance communication between workers and management. Additionally, these systems provide real-time data on WHS performance, enabling businesses to identify areas for improvement and make well-informed decisions about risk management.