Today, October 1, marks the start of National Safe Work Month, which is being promoted by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

This year’s theme is ‘Safety is everybody’s business’, and ACCI is calling on work health and safety (WHS) regulators to reflect how they can help improve WHS amongst businesses, particularly small businesses.

The 2024 Small Business Conditions Survey compiled by ACCI found that small business owners rated safe work agencies as requiring the second greatest degree of regulatory compliance only after the ATO.

ACCI chief executive officer Andrew McKellar says the ACCI survey results show the extreme challenges facing small business in dealing with red tape, which highlights the need for work health and safety regulators not to add to the complexity and compliance burden.

“Six years on from our Part and Parcel safety campaign which focused on improving the way SMEs identify and implement WHS regulation into their own business context, and things are getting worse, not better,” Mr McKellar said.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy; however, they are often a second thought when it comes to policy making, legislation and regulations,” Mr McKellar said.

“It is everybody’s business to ensure WHS practices are fit for purpose and will achieve the positive outcomes we all want to see.”

Later this month ACCI will release this year’s national WHS Business Survey Report.