About us

PRINT

World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers' Memorial Day

Reduce the risk of work injuries by creating a healthy workplace

(Wednesday 28 April) This World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers' Memorial Day we remember those who have died from a work related injury or illness and look at how we can create healthy, safe and thriving workplaces to reduce the risk of future work-related injuries and illnesses.

This year, the theme of World Day for Safety and Health at Work is ‘Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises’, focusing on the importance of creating and investing in resilient WHS systems in order to face crises now and in the future.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all workplaces, from the risk of transmission of the virus to the safety and health risks, both physical and mental, that have emerged as a result of measures taken to mitigate the spread of the virus. Shifts to new forms of working arrangements, such as working from home, have presented many opportunities for workers but also posed potential safety and health risks.

There are a range of free services and resources available to help South Australian businesses create safe and healthy workplaces and be prepared to respond to crises now and in the future:

  • Employer Education Advisors: Our Employer Education Advisors can provide you with tailored support to improve or maximise return to work outcomes
  • Mentally Healthy Workplaces Consultant: Our specialised consultant can help you to identify and reduce risk factors to mental health in your workplace.
  • SafeWork SA advisory service: Request a visit from a safety advisor who can provide advice based on your workplace's industry, size, risk and complexity.
  • Healthy Workplaces website: The Healthy Workplaces website provides a range of information, tools and resources, including COVID-19 resources, to help South Australian businesses create healthy, safe and thriving workplaces.

Work injuries in South Australia

Knowing the causes and types of injuries that commonly occur can help us to identify where we can improve safety and health in our workplaces.

The below infographic provides a snapshot of the top 3 causes of injuries, costs of injuries, occupations at most risk and most common injury types, based on South Australian registered employer claims for FY2020.

While the most common causes of injuries are physical, the claims costs for psychological injuries caused by mental stress are the highest due to people needing more time off work. This highlights the importance of addressing both physical and mental health and safety in the workplace.

Work injuries in South Australia. Claim profile – top 3. Claims by cause of injury: 35% body stressing, 19% hitting or being hit by an object, 17% falls, trips and slips. Claims costs by cause of injury: $63m mental stress, $52m vehicle accidents and incidents, $30m falls, trips and slips. Claims by occupation: 28% technicians and trade workers, 27% labourers, 16% machinery operators and drivers. Claims by injury type: 37% soft tissue injury, 20% laceration or wound, 15% musculoskeletal and connective tissue. Data relates to registered employer claims for FY2019-20. Data as at 1 April 2021.