National Safe Work Month 2025

Date Posted:8 October 2025 

October marks National Safe Work Month, led by Safe Work Australia to raise awareness of workplace health and safety. The 2025 theme, “Safety: Every Job, Every Day”, reminds all industries that safety is a daily responsibility. Find out more.

National Safe Work Month 2025: Building Safer Workplaces Together

Here are the key points you need to know about National Safe Work Month 2025:

  • Theme: “safety: every job, every day” — making WHS a daily responsibility across all industries.

  • In 2023, 200 workers were killed and 139,000 serious injury claims were lodged — showing why safety must remain a priority.

  • Safe Work Australia is the national policy body representing the interests of the Commonwealth, states and territories, as well as workers and employers.

Every October, Safe Work Australia leads the nation in recognising National Safe Work Month — an initiative dedicated to raising awareness of workplace health and safety across all industries.

Whether in construction, logistics, healthcare, retail, or hospitality, every workplace has a responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its people.

group of construction related employees planning talking

 

Who is Safe Work Australia?

Safe Work Australia is the national policy body representing the interests of the Commonwealth, states and territories, as well as workers and employers. Its role is to develop national policy that improves WHS and workers’ compensation arrangements across Australia.

While it provides guidance and resources, Safe Work Australia does not regulate WHS laws or enforce compliance. This responsibility lies with the individual state and territory regulators.

 

This Year’s Theme: Safety: Every Job, Every Day

The 2025 theme, “safety: every job, every day”, is a reminder that health and safety is not a once-a-year campaign, but a daily responsibility. It applies equally to every occupation, location, and business size.

By practising safety every day, workplaces can reduce the rate of fatalities, serious injuries, and illnesses, ensuring that every worker goes home safely.

 

Why Workplace Safety Matters in Every Industry

Workplace health and safety is not limited to high-risk sectors like construction or mining. Hazards exist in every workplace, from manual handling injuries in warehouses, to slips and trips in hospitality venues, to ergonomic issues in office environments.

Safe Work Australia’s latest data shows that “in 2023, 200 workers in Australia were fatally injured at work and there were 139,000 workers’ compensation claims for serious injuries and illnesses.”

why workplace safety matters

 

While fatality and injury rates have fallen significantly over the last decade, the people and stories behind these numbers remind us that no level of workplace harm is acceptable.

As Safe Work Australia emphasises, “no job should be unsafe, and no workplace death or injury is acceptable”. A safe and healthy workplace is not just a goal — it’s a fundamental right.

This is why every October since 2009, National Safe Work Month calls on businesses and workers to reflect on their practices, raise awareness of WHS, and take action to achieve the vision of safe and healthy work for all. The initiative highlights that every worker deserves to go home safe, every day.

 

Understanding the Story Behind Work-Related Statistics by State

The latest data from Safe Work Australia and the state regulators paints a clear picture — while overall workplace injury and fatality rates have declined over the past decade, the toll remains far too high. In 2023 alone, 200 workers lost their lives due to work-related incidents, and over 139,000 serious injury claims were recorded nationally.

These figures highlight an important truth: safety risks exist across every industry, regardless of size or sector.

The longer median recovery times and higher compensation payouts in some states — such as Victoria (21.2 working weeks) and Western Australia (10.8 working weeks) — suggest that certain industries or tasks continue to carry greater hazards.

For instance, construction, transport, warehousing, and manufacturing consistently account for a large portion of serious claims.

State Authority Workers' Compensation Claims - 2023 Median Time Lost (working weeks) - 2022 Median Compensation Paid - 2022 Workers Fatally Injured - 2023
- Safe Work Australia 139,002 7.2 $14,416 200
NSW SafeWork NSW 56,404 4.2 $10,574 60
QLD WorkSafe Queensland 33,832 6.4 $11,332 51
VIC WorkSafe Victoria 22,130 21.2 $26,351 37
WA WorkSafe Western Australia 12,550 10.8 $27,858 27
SA SafeWork SA 6,042 8.2 $18,494 17
TAS WorkSafe Tasmania 3,669 4.9 $10,361 2
ACT WorkSafe ACT 1,613 7.2 $19,676 1
NT NT WorkSafe 739 6.0 $14,021 5

 

workers compensation claims and fatalities statistics 2023

Source: Safe Work Australia – Work-related Fatalities Interactive Dashboard and Workers’ Compensation Interactive Dashboard (accessed October 2025).

 

The variation between states also reflects differing economic activity and workforce composition.

  • New South Wales (56,404) and Queensland (33,832) report the highest number of total claims, aligning with their larger populations and concentration of industrial and logistics operations.

  • Victoria ($26,351) and Western Australia ($27,858), despite fewer claims, show higher median compensation costs and longer recovery times, suggesting more severe injuries or longer rehabilitation needs.

  • Smaller states, like the Northern Territory and Tasmania, still face unique safety challenges tied to remote operations, smaller workforces, and resource-heavy industries.

These patterns underline the importance of continuous safety education, proactive hazard management, and equipping teams with the right tools — particularly in environments with high manual handling and machinery use.

 

Interpreting Safe Work Australia’s Dashboards

For businesses seeking to better understand workplace safety trends, Safe Work Australia’s interactive dashboards are invaluable.

  • The Work-related Fatalities Dashboard allows users to explore incidents by industry, state, occupation, and cause, helping identify which sectors face the greatest risks.

  • The Workers’ Compensation Dashboard provides deeper insight into the types of injuries most frequently reported, the average time lost, and the associated costs.

These tools empower WHS professionals, business owners, and managers to make data-driven decisions — from identifying recurring hazards to refining risk management strategies.

Regularly reviewing this data can help organisations target their safety efforts more effectively, ensuring compliance and reducing both human and financial costs of workplace incidents.

corporate employees researching data office workplace

 

Making “Safety: Every Job, Every Day” a Reality

The 2025 theme is more than a message. It’s a call to action for every workplace to make safety part of their everyday routine.

To help, Safe Work Australia is focusing on the risk management process week by week throughout October:

  • Week 1: Identify hazards

  • Week 2: Assess risks

  • Week 3: Control risks

  • Week 4: Review controls

This approach provides organisations with practical resources to guide discussions and activities, making WHS improvements easier to implement.

healthcare workers safe work month discussion

 

Events and Resources Across Australia

Throughout October, state and territory workplace safety authorities and others host events, campaigns, and workshops to support the message of safer workplaces. These events are designed to provide practical resources, case studies, and tools to help employers and workers reduce risks and strengthen their safety culture.

National Safe Work Month is also a chance to pause and start conversations about safety. Toolbox talks, safety-focused team meetings, or informal catch-ups like SafeTea sessions are simple yet effective ways to raise awareness and encourage participation.

 

Importantly, National Safe Work Month is for everyone:

  • Employers can engage with staff, review risks, and plan workplace activities.

  • Sole traders and contractors can reflect on how they manage both physical and psychosocial hazards.

  • Workers can talk with WHS officers, managers, or safety reps about how to get involved.

  • Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) can lead activities and connect workers and employers.

  • Industry organisations and unions can share campaign resources with their members.

By setting aside time in October to review and strengthen WHS practices, businesses and workers alike can help make safety: every job, every day a reality.

pedestrian handrail barrier system

 

Verdex Supports Safer Workplaces

At Verdex, we strongly support the mission of National Safe Work Month. We believe that safe workplaces are productive workplaces, and we’re proud to supply businesses with the workplace safety equipment and material handling solutions they need to minimise risks and keep teams safe.

From personal protective equipment (PPE) to spill containment, signage, lifting equipment and materials handling equipment, our products are designed to assist organisations in creating safer, more compliant work environments.

 

Final Thoughts

National Safe Work Month is a reminder that workplace health and safety is everyone’s responsibility. By staying informed, engaging with the initiatives, and equipping teams with the right tools, businesses can create environments where safety is a core value, not an afterthought.

Verdex is proud to support Safe Work Australia and the state-based regulators in promoting safer workplaces. If your business is looking for practical solutions to enhance safety, our team is ready to help.

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