Industrial Relations Update | October

Work Health and Safety National Safe Work Month

In South Australia 4.5% of the total workforce works in agriculture; however, almost 19% of workplace deaths occur on farms.

This means South Australian farmers are being fatally injured at a rate of almost 5 times their share of the workforce. On top of the high fatality rate, every week 9 South Australian primary producers are injured seriously enough to access work injury insurance. Frustratingly, many fatalities and serious injuries are preventable.

SafeWork SA is encouraging all South Australians to make health and safety part of their workplace culture.

During October there will be several activities organised by SafeWork SA which can be accessed at National Safe Work Month.

SafeWork’s popular Organise your own workplace activity is on again this October. This year there is a prize pool of $3,000 to award activities that promote workplace safety.

Employers are encouraged to host a SafeTea event at their workplace to have important discussions with the employees about health and safety at work.

Employers can register for the Billion Steps Challenge a free state-wide challenge individually or in a group with your workmates.

You can also register for the free Incident Simulation an interactive workshop of a critical incident.

SafeWork SA is also in conjunction with the City of Marion and City of Mitcham conducting Mock Court Trial an interactive mock trial of a critical workplace incident.

SafeWork SA’s schedule of activities planned throughout October that will focus on all areas of Work Health and Safety across key industries in South Australia.

SafeWork SA safety news for farms at and the industry specific Guidebook designed with the assistance of Livestock SA.

Members’ Industrial Relations Advice

Livestock SA members are entitled to contact MERS for a free half hour consultation, per member per year. Our telephone number is 08 8331 2422 and email info@mers.com.au