Wednesday 17th March 2021

Safety News Update: Wednesday 17th March 2021

Welcome to this week's safety news roundup, covering key developments affecting Australian manufacturers and workplaces. Below we summarise two major stories shaping health and safety standards as of this date: a significant Government investment boosting local manufacturing, and WorkSafe Victoria's urgent call for stronger workplace safety practices.

Local Manufacturers to Benefit from $1.5 Billion Government Investment

Australian manufacturers are set to gain from a fresh $1.5 billion Government investment under the Modern Manufacturing Strategy (MMS). This funding aims to improve availability and safety standards across consumer goods nationwide.

Grants under this scheme are available to two of six priority manufacturing sectors. Eligible businesses can apply to strengthen local supply chains, handle mass production, up-skill employees, scale operations, and improve overall competitiveness.

Quality management expert at SAI Global, Saeid Nikdel, explained why Australian-made goods hold such strong international appeal:

"Our high safety legislation, codes of practice, and quality standards are the reasons why Australian-made products are so popular in international markets. As our manufacturers start to produce more locally, they can place a stronger focus on providing quality and safety products and services by certifying to Quality Management System ISO 9001 and OHS Management System ISO 45001."

Nikdel remains optimistic this investment will strengthen target markets including space, resources technology, critical minerals processing, food and beverage, medical products, recycling, clean energy, and defence sectors.

Full coverage of this news item is available on the Manufacturers Monthly website.

WorkSafe Victoria Urges All Workplaces to Prioritise Health and Safety

All Victorian workplaces face renewed pressure to prioritise health and safety, following 65 tragic workplace deaths recorded in 2020. WorkSafe chief executive Colin Radford said every death represented "a tragedy for families, workplaces and communities grappling with the loss of a loved one."

The 2020 toll breaks down as follows:

• 29 workers died in Victorian workplace incidents
• 20 workers died in work-related road incidents
• 13 workers died from effects of disease contracted through their work
• One worker died from a work-related medical incident
• One worker died from a workplace-related suicide

Whether staff work on a construction site, farm, office, or road, health and safety obligations should travel with them wherever duties take them.

Radford urged businesses to act decisively: "Slow down, check your systems of work and make sure you are doing everything possible to eliminate or manage these risks because the cost of not doing so can be a life."

Employers seeking guidance should review our Workplace Health and Safety Policy resources to ensure compliance obligations get met consistently.

Further details on this news can be found on the WorkSafe Vic website.

More Safety News Updates

For additional coverage of workplace safety developments, explore our other weekly news summaries:

• Wednesday 10th March 2021 — earlier safety news highlights
• Wednesday 24th March 2021 — following week's news update
• Wednesday 31st March 2021 — further safety news coverage

Staying informed through regular news updates helps safety professionals across construction, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors remain proactive rather than reactive when managing workplace risks.