WORK SAFE WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO PREVENT IMPACT INJURIES
Published Sunday, 22 October, 2006 at 02:00 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel today kicked off Work Safe Week 2006 (22-28 October) by calling on Queensland workplaces to do all they can to reduce the annual toll from impact injuries.
“Impact injuries account for more than 20,000 workplace injuries and $60 million in compensation claims each year,” Mr Mickel said.
“This year Work Safe Week will highlight the need to reduce impact injuries which are among the most common causes of injury in our workplaces and can result in permanent disability or even death.”
Mr Mickel said impact injuries are an issue in all workplaces – some more than others.
Some of the most common hazards at workplaces that lead to impact injuries include:
• cluttered areas
• moving vehicles, plant or equipment
• lack of warning signs at intersections
• doors opening into walkways
• plant not maintained in a safe condition
• unguarded or improperly guarded machinery which generates flying objects and debris
• lack of warning devices on moving plant and vehicles
• working with animals, particularly cattle.
“We want to send the message during Work Safe Week that too many workers are being unnecessarily injured in this way and that most could be prevented by employers and employees working together to identify and eliminate risks in their workplaces,” he said.
To raise awareness of the need to make health and safety a priority every day in every workplace, radio, print, bus shelter and street banner advertisements will be run throughout Queensland during Work Safe Week 2006.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland will also conduct 60 practical risk management workshops and launch a free booklet titled “Impact Injury Prevention” and fact sheets offering practical advice for reducing injuries caused by hitting or being hit by objects, machinery and other people.
The booklet outlines in simple terms how such injuries occur, some industry specific hazards that cause impact injuries and how to develop a simple risk management plan to prevent impact injuries. It also includes useful samples of a simple risk management worksheet, a risk assessment and control form; a hazard and associated risk register, and a risk priority score chart.
A highlight of Work Safe Week will be the announcement of the winners of the inaugural Queensland Work Safe Awards at an industry function at Parliament House on Wednesday 25 October.
The Awards recognise Queensland businesses with outstanding safety records.
For more information, to book into a workshop or obtain a copy of the booklet visit www.dir.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 915.
Work Safe Week is an initiative of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, a division of the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, and is part of Safe Work Australia Week.
Media inquiries: Chris Brown (07) 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion (07) 3224 6784
“Impact injuries account for more than 20,000 workplace injuries and $60 million in compensation claims each year,” Mr Mickel said.
“This year Work Safe Week will highlight the need to reduce impact injuries which are among the most common causes of injury in our workplaces and can result in permanent disability or even death.”
Mr Mickel said impact injuries are an issue in all workplaces – some more than others.
Some of the most common hazards at workplaces that lead to impact injuries include:
• cluttered areas
• moving vehicles, plant or equipment
• lack of warning signs at intersections
• doors opening into walkways
• plant not maintained in a safe condition
• unguarded or improperly guarded machinery which generates flying objects and debris
• lack of warning devices on moving plant and vehicles
• working with animals, particularly cattle.
“We want to send the message during Work Safe Week that too many workers are being unnecessarily injured in this way and that most could be prevented by employers and employees working together to identify and eliminate risks in their workplaces,” he said.
To raise awareness of the need to make health and safety a priority every day in every workplace, radio, print, bus shelter and street banner advertisements will be run throughout Queensland during Work Safe Week 2006.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland will also conduct 60 practical risk management workshops and launch a free booklet titled “Impact Injury Prevention” and fact sheets offering practical advice for reducing injuries caused by hitting or being hit by objects, machinery and other people.
The booklet outlines in simple terms how such injuries occur, some industry specific hazards that cause impact injuries and how to develop a simple risk management plan to prevent impact injuries. It also includes useful samples of a simple risk management worksheet, a risk assessment and control form; a hazard and associated risk register, and a risk priority score chart.
A highlight of Work Safe Week will be the announcement of the winners of the inaugural Queensland Work Safe Awards at an industry function at Parliament House on Wednesday 25 October.
The Awards recognise Queensland businesses with outstanding safety records.
For more information, to book into a workshop or obtain a copy of the booklet visit www.dir.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 915.
Work Safe Week is an initiative of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, a division of the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, and is part of Safe Work Australia Week.
Media inquiries: Chris Brown (07) 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion (07) 3224 6784