Previous ThinkSafe campaigns
2002 - Managing common workplace hazards
Like ThinkSafe 2001, the campaign in 2002 again focused on small business employers and decision makers. In 2001/2002 over 6,000 copies of the First Step guide were distributed to workplace employers and decision makers, who "took the first step" by requesting the guide in order to find out about hazard identification, risk assessment and control.
However, Donovan's survey of small business in 2001 ("WorkSafe Baseline Survey", NFO Donovan Research, June 2001) found that 96% of respondents viewed their level of risk or injury to employees in their workplace as moderate or low and 92% believed occupational safety and health is mostly common sense. This demonstrates poor understanding of hazard management and legislative requirements.
Thus the main objective of the ThinkSafe Campaign in 2002 was to motivate employers and other decision makers to actively manage hazards in their workplaces. The key communication objective was to increase the level of understanding of occupational safety and health risks associated with not managing hazards in their workplace.
The campaign focused on six of WorkSafe's priority areas, these being:
- Electricity
- Falls from heights
- Hazardous Substances
- Manual Handling
- New and Young Workers
- Slips and trips
The priority areas have high rates of lost time injury or a higher than average number of deaths and are part of the WorkSafe operational strategy involving targeted inspections of workplaces where WorkSafe inspectors give these priority areas special attention. Inspectors look at some fundamental safety aspects in relation to each priority area and assess whether or not the workplace complies with occupational safety and health laws.
Focusing on the priority areas also raised the profile and awareness of the inspector's role and the legislation requirements associated with risk management.
A key part of the campaign in 2002 was production and distribution of Managing Common Workplace Hazards (PDF 269kb), which considered the hazards associated with the six priority areas listed above, and provided checklists to allow employers and decision makers to check the risks associated with these hazards. A set of six posters focusing on the priority areas were also produced and distributed with the publication.
The 2002 ThinkSafe campaign included broadcast across the State of a 30 second television advertisement and some print advertisements in The West Australian and Business Advocate from April to the mid June. The television advertisement adopted a humorous approach, depicting a small business "boss" walking through his workplace, seemingly oblivious to several priority area hazards encountered along the way. The 1800 HAZARD hotline (1800 429 273) was again promoted.
Donovan Research was contracted to undertake a combined ThinkSafe Evaluation and WorkSafe Attitudes Survey in mid June 2002, just after conclusion of the campaign.