World Day for Safety and Health at Work

The HRIA welcomes World Day for Safety and Health at Work (World Day) and Workers’ Memorial Day on Sunday 28 April 2024.

Worksafe Australia data shows that in 2022, 195 workers in Australia were fatally injured at work. This concerning statistic amplifies the importance of increasing awareness around work health and safety to prevent work-related injuries and fatalities.

The Hire and Rental Industry Association, Elevating Work Platform Association, and Telescopic Handlers Association work tirelessly to promote safety best practices among members and to help make their customers markets safer working environments when using hired equipment.

In 2024, the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) World Day theme explores the ‘impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health’.

Accompanying World Day, the International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC) theme for Workers’ Memorial Day 2024 is ‘climate risks for workers’.

Want to get involved?

We encourage everyone to promote World Day and Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April 2024 to recognise the importance of health and safety in the workplace.

• Download our co-brandable resources to promote the day in your workplace:
  • Poster 
  • Desktop Wallpaper 
  • Video Call Background
  • Social media tiles
  • Animated GIF
• Post your awareness-raising content on social media along with our social tiles LINK and the hashtags #WorldWHSDay2024 #SafeDay2024 #IWMD2024.
• Attend a virtual Workers’ Memorial Day event
• Learn more about the importance of a safe and healthy workplace by exploring our staying safe when working in severe weather resources below or arranging a safety expert to speak in your workplace.

Staying safe when working in severe weather

Explore our practical resources about staying safe when working in severe weather and outside, including managing the work health and safety risks from extreme heat, bushfires, sun exposure and air pollution.

• Checklist for managing the risks of heat in the workplace
• Working outside in summer – infographic
• Identifying and assessing the risk of bushfires at work
• Guide on exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation
• Wearing a P2/N95 mask – infographic
• Working outside

About this year’s theme

The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) theme for World Day 2024 explores the ‘impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health’.

The theme recognises that changing weather patterns can create WHS risks. Heat, flooding, and extreme weather events are increasingly likely to disrupt the normal operation of many businesses. In addition, new technologies and industries in decarbonisation and the circular economy are emerging, creating new roles.

Climate change, increasing urbanisation and proximity of humans and animals have also led to the emergence of novel infectious diseases and increased the transmission and spread of other diseases.

Supporting information

• World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024 – International Labour Organization
• Workers’ Memorial Day – International Trade Union Confederation
• Key work health and safety statistics Australia 2023
• Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
• Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033

Further advice

Visit your WHS regulator website for information and local activities for World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April 2024.