30 Oct National Safe Work Month – Winner 4

We are excited to announce this week’s competition winner which was centred around Working together to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. It was very difficult to choose a winner as there were quite a few excellent entries but there can only be one prize each week. The winning entry was submitted by Jamalya from Wilson and she now has free enrolment to a BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety qualification.

The winning entry is:

Hi, my name is Jema, and I’m a HSE Safety Professional. I’ve been working in the industry for over 13 years, and I’m passionate about creating safe and healthy workplaces for everyone. I was dreaming to apply for this course in the beginning of 2023.

However, was advised that this course is for free only for Australian citizens or Permanent residents. I lost all my hope in applying. Yet with this email below, you gave me another hope for future with my passion of Workplace Health and Safety.

I believe that the best way to achieve this is by working together. Employers, employees, and all stakeholders have a role to play in ensuring that everyone can go home safely at the end of the day.

Here are a few tips on how we can all work together to create a safer and healthier workplace:

Employers:

• Make safety a top priority.
• Provide employees with the training and resources they need to stay safe.
• Encourage employees to report hazards and incidents.
• Create a culture of safety where everyone feels comfortable speaking up.
• Put yourself in employees’ shoes.

Employees:

• Take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of your colleagues.
• Follow safety procedures and guidelines.
• Report any hazards or incidents to your supervisor.
• Be aware of the risks in your workplace and take steps to mitigate them.
• Ask if unsure and stop when unsafe.

All stakeholders:

• Collaborate on developing and implementing safety policies and procedures.
• Share best practices and learn from each other.
• Promote a culture of safety across the industry.

I’m sharing my story with the WHS world because I want to help others create safer and healthier workplaces. I believe that by working together, we can make a difference.

Here is a specific example of how I worked with others to create a safer and healthier workplace:

I was working at a construction site where there was a high risk of falls from height. I worked with the site manager and supervisors to develop a new safety plan that included specific training for workers on fall protection equipment and procedures. We also installed new guardrails and safety nets to reduce the risk of falls.

As a result of our efforts, the number of fall from height incidents at the site decreased significantly. This showed me the power of working together to create a safer workplace.

I encourage everyone to get involved in creating a safer and healthier workplace. We all have a role to play.

Congratulations Jamalya and to all the other wonderful people who sent in entries. You can see some of the entries HERE.

We would like to say a massive thank you to all those who submitted entries into the competition.

Stay safe.