National Safe Work Month campaign focusing on managing WHS risks during third week of National Safe Work Month

National Safe Work Month campaign focusing on managing WHS risks during third week of National Safe Work Month brings a sharp shift in focus for safety professionals across the country. Each week of the National Safe Work Month campaign tackles a distinct theme, and this week, Safe Work Australia turns attention toward WHS risk management and preventing harm at workplaces nationwide.

What Does Managing WHS Risks Involve?

Safe Work Australia explains it plainly: "Managing WHS risks means thinking about how things could go wrong at your workplace and what the consequences could be for your workers or other people."

Organisations must first eliminate WHS risks so far as reasonably practicable. Where elimination isn't possible, minimising harm to workers becomes the next priority, whether that harm stems from hazardous plant, unsafe manual handling practices, or poorly managed construction sites.

Key Steps for Risk Elimination and Minimisation

• Identify hazards linked to plant, equipment, and hazardous substances before work begins
• Assess handling procedures for materials, tools, and construction resources
• Eliminate risks wherever reasonably achievable, particularly around ageing plant or high-risk construction tasks
• Implement control measures for tasks that can't be fully eliminated, including safer handling methods and plant maintenance schedules

Why Plant and Handling Practices Matter This Week

Plant-related incidents remain a persistent concern across construction and manufacturing sectors. Faulty plant, combined with inadequate handling training, contributes significantly to workplace injuries. This week's Safe Work Australia guidance encourages businesses to review how plant gets operated, maintained, and decommissioned, alongside how handling tasks get assigned and supervised.

Construction sites in particular face compounding risks when plant and handling hazards intersect. Reviewing safe work method statements, such as those covering rigging procedures, offers a practical starting point for construction teams aiming to strengthen compliance this week.

Building on Previous Weeks

During the first week of National Safe Work Month, campaign resources centred on injuries at work. The second week shifted toward mental health, rounding out a broader narrative around worker wellbeing before this week's focus on structured WHS risk management.

Australia's approach to National Safe Work Month reflects a growing recognition that hazardous plant, poor handling practices, and unmanaged construction risks all demand sustained attention, not just a single week of awareness. Safety leaders across Australia are encouraged to use this information to reassess internal risk registers and update controls where gaps remain.

Source: Safe Work Australia website.