Published: 24 May 2022
Members of the WorkSafe Board and senior executives will visit a number of workplaces in the region on Thursday, before meeting with local employers, unions and health and safety representatives later that afternoon.
The WorkSafe Board and Executive Leadership Team will then remain in Warrnambool for its regular monthly meeting the following day.
WorkSafe Chief Executive Officer Colin Radford said the visit to Warrnambool was part of an ongoing commitment to meet with regional leaders to discuss workplace health and safety issues.
"Local business and community leaders play a key role in shaping a region's health and safety culture, and we want to support them to set prevention-led examples for others to follow," Mr Radford said.
"The visit also gives employers and workers the chance to meet WorkSafe's senior decision makers and have their say on health and safety issues that are important to them."
"Tragically, there were four workplace fatalities in the western district area in 2021 and 516 people injured seriously enough at work to need workers compensation."
"We're also seeing a sharp increase in the number of claims for mental injuries right across Victoria, so there are many things to discuss."
Mr Radford said reducing workplace harm and improving outcomes for injured workers was WorkSafe’s top priority.
"We are continuing to develop new tools and resources to support employers to keep their workers physically and mentally safe and create a safety-first attitude in every workplace," he said.
"By working together, we can keep moving towards a future where every single worker makes it home safely at the end of the day."
The Warrnambool visit coincides with the next round of WorkSafe's Country Club Program, celebrating 21 years of sponsoring local footy and netball.
The week of activities includes mental health and wellbeing sessions, a training night with former AFL player Tom Boyd, and the Country Club Game between North Warrnambool and South Warrnambool at Bushfield Recreation Reserve on Saturday.