Launch of WorkSafe Tasmania Month

Keeping all Tasmanians safe at work is a critical task that we all share.

Today I officially launched WorkSafe Tasmania Month, which runs from September 29 – October 31.

The Month is part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of work health and safety and reduce work-related injury, illness and death.

In 2013 a total of 8,194 people were injured at work in Tasmania. This is a fall from 9,023 injuries in 2012, but we must continue to strive for all workplaces to be injury-free.

The top five industries in which workplace injuries occurred in Tasmania were health and community services, manufacturing, retail, education, and construction.

Today I was joined by employees from Ronald Young & Co Builders to launch WorkSafe Month.

Safety within the state’s construction industry is the central focus of a number of free information sessions being offered during WorkSafe Month.

These include a practical session on residential building height safety and managing the risks of falls, as well as a workshop looking at the safety risks associated with gantry cranes in the concrete industry.

In total more than 160 free information sessions will be held around the state to help Tasmanians learn work health and safety practices and encourage everyone to make safety a priority.

It is vital that we all do our bit to make our workplaces are safe.
Peter Gutwein, Treasurer