Free Seminar to Tackle Workplace Mental Health

One in six working age people live with a mental illness, at an estimated cost of $11 billion to Australian businesses, and in some sectors, the numbers are much higher, according to the organisers of a workplace safety seminar.

The escalating mental health challenge will be the focus of next month’s workplace safety gathering in Brisbane, expected to attract over 2,500 people.

Employers and business leaders are being encouraged to play a more active role in developing healthier workplaces for their employees.

beyondblue and AccessEAP will be speaking at the Safety in Action Exhibition Free Seminar on how to create mentally healthy workplaces and why workplace wellness is good for a business’s bottom line.

They will be joined by safety experts who will share new research, discuss regulatory compliance issues and expand on technological innovations – including a new mobile App that empowers staff to log incidents and a global diagnostic tool that enables leaders to better review safety initiatives.

“Every year, work related injuries cost the Australian economy an estimated $60 billion or more and Safety in Action will provide people with the knowledge, tools and resources to minimise the economic burden of work related injuries in the future,” John Wilson from Informa, organisers of this year’s event, said.

Wilson said Safety in Action is Australia’s largest safety exhibition and has been revamped this year to include new features, including Spot the Hazard – showing how height, signage and other factors can present hazards in the workplace; Innovation Hour – a fast-paced demonstration of revolutionary new safety products; and a photo booth for attendees to interact with and experience the latest equipment.

Seminar sessions include:

• Regulation and Culture Change – John Fell, Advanced Safety Systems Australia (ASSA)  

• Hazardous Chemicals – cost effective management and handling – Jeremy Trotman, JTA  

• Skin Cancer – What is the risk in your industry? – Tom Hastwell, Skin Patrol  

• The Heads Up Initiative – Creating More Mentally Healthy Workplaces – Nick Arvanitis, beyondblue  

• Workplace Wellness – It’s Good for Business – Sally Kirkright, AccessEAP  

• Software and Mobile Apps for Hands on Safety Management – Adrian Manessis, MyOSH  

• Mindful Safety Leadership – the use of a successful diagnostic tool – Marc McLaren, Generative HSE  

• Fatigue Risk management – getting it right for your organisation – Michael Adeney, Fatigue Safety  

• Safety and Leadership – Don’t Become Complacent – Ennio Bianchi, National Safety Council of Aust.

The Brisbane event is a forerunner to the national Safety in Action Exhibition (15-17 September 2015). which will be hosted at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. For more information please visit the website.

The event will be held at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre from Wednesday 22 April to Thursday 23 April.

For more information visit www.safetyinaction.net.au/brisbane