SA workplaces urged to promote World Day for Safety at Work and Workers' Memorial Day 2022

SafeWork SA is encouraging workplaces to recognise the importance of workplace safety by promoting World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers' Memorial Day 2022 on 28 April.

South Australian employers, unions and workers are urged to support this important event, joining workplaces across the country in reflecting on how a strong safety culture protects people from hazardous conditions on any given day.

Theme: Building a Positive Safety and Health Culture

This year's theme for World Day for Safety and Health at Work centres on acting together to build a positive safety and health culture. It reminds every workplace that safety isn't a solo effort — it requires collective commitment.

SafeWork SA said, "Workplaces, employers and workers are encouraged to foster a strong work health and safety culture. One where everyone contributes to a safe working environment."

Why Workplace Culture Matters

A genuine health and safety culture depends on shared responsibility. When leaders and staff support one another, hazardous tasks involving plant, equipment or hazardous substances become far less likely to cause harm.

Practical steps that support a positive culture include:

• Encouraging open reporting of hazards and near misses
• Providing ongoing training on safe plant operation and maintenance
• Ensuring workers have access to care and support after an incident
• Reviewing work health and safety policies regularly to reflect current risks

The Human Cost: Remembering Workers' Memorial Day

Statistics show 194 Australian workers were killed at work in 2020, with 11 of the fatalities occurring in South Australia. These figures underscore why Workers' Memorial Day matters — each number represents a life lost and a family left without support.

Commemorating this event alongside World Day for Safety gives workplaces a chance to pause, reflect, and recommit to preventing further tragedy. Care for injured or affected workers, along with their families, remains central to this remembrance.

Supporting a Safer Future

Businesses can support safer outcomes by embedding health considerations into everyday operations, from plant inspections to hazardous material handling. Resources such as a WHS Policy template or a comprehensive Work Health and Safety Manual can help formalise these commitments and support consistent practice across teams.

Attending events like the Workplace Health and Safety Show also offers valuable opportunities to learn from industry experts and strengthen safety knowledge.

Read the full story on the SafeWork SA website.

For further reading, explore how Australians are urged to promote safety in their workplaces this National Safe Work Month, or see how Safe Work Australia encourages workplaces to support World Day and commemorate Workers' Memorial Day on 28 April 2024. Workplaces planning ahead may also find our World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2023 Promotion guide useful.