Safe Work Month 2021: Think Safe. Work Safe. Be Safe

It’s that time of year again! October is ‘National Safe Work Month’, an initiative of Safe Work Australia that reminds
us about the vital importance of safety in the workplace. The theme for 2021 is ‘think safe. work safe. be safe.’

We all must be responsible for health and safety in the workplace.

Blackwoods prides itself on promoting workplace safety and providing expertise and solutions in safety practice. Not surprisingly we are also proud supporters of ‘National Safe Work Month’, and we always find great ways to bring people, including employers, workers, and customers, together in many different environments. Activities have included trade store displays, interviews and pictures with team members discussing what safe work means to them, and the implementation of week-long themes covering such topics as:

• Workplace Safety Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Signage/Traffic Management
• Manual Handling

“We are always conscious of creating greater awareness and how we can improve the safety and health of everyone, both in the workplace and the broader Australian community,” says Amanda Haddad, Head of Health Safety and Wellbeing at Blackwoods.

“Our safety team work on a ‘4P’s’ value proposition, which is an extension of our business Strategic Focus. It helps guide us, to ensure we go home the same way we arrived.” ‘Think safe, work safe, be safe’ are six simple words that evertheless have deep meaning. For example, have a good think right now. How aware are you of all the health and safety issues in your workplace?

Are you across all practices within the Hierarchy of Controls? And what about those safety goggles that don’t fit as well as they used to? Or the boots that you’re beginning to slip in? Remember, ‘think safe. work safe. be safe.’

October also signifies ‘Mental Health Month’, which is part of the ‘World Mental Health Day’ campaign. As we have seen with the great work undertaken by TradeMutt and Beyond Blue and many other committed organisations mental health is a major concern in the workplace. Are you looking after your workmates right now? And are you aware of the signs that you or someone close to you may be struggling?