As the saying goes, “The best place is home,” and Safe Work Australia is doing everything it can to ensure that food delivery drivers across the nation make it there safely each day. This week, the organisation launched the “Deliver Yourself Home Safely” campaign, a dedicated initiative aimed at increasing the safety of food delivery workers nationwide.
The campaign comes in response to alarming data showing that since 2019, there have tragically been ten fatalities within the food delivery industry. These deaths, along with numerous injuries, have shone a harsh spotlight on the pressing need for improved safety standards in this rapidly growing sector.
According to Australian Labour Market Insights, the food delivery industry boasted approximately 72,500 workers in 2020. However, with the continued rise of home dining, this number is expected to swell to over 90,000 by 2026. This burgeoning workforce heightens the urgency for effective safety measures.
The “Deliver Yourself Home Safely” campaign recognises the multicultural nature of the delivery workforce. In a considerate nod to the high proportion of workers for whom English is a second language, materials will be provided in Mandarin, Punjabi, Nepali, Vietnamese, Hindi, and Urdu, as well as English.
The campaign has established a comprehensive online information hub at www.swa.gov.au/deliversafely, offering vital resources on work health and safety issues. The site includes guidance on identifying and mitigating risks and hazards, understanding rights and duties, and advice on dealing with abuse and extreme weather conditions. It also provides information on work health and safety consultation and workers’ compensation.
Chief Executive Officer of Safe Work Australia, Michelle Baxter, emphasised the importance of the campaign. “All workers, regardless of the work they do or how they are engaged, have a right to a healthy and safe working environment. This includes food delivery workers who encounter a range of hazards in their jobs that pose risks to both physical and psychological safety,” Baxter stated.
She continued, stressing the campaign’s ultimate goal: “It’s important food delivery workers understand what they can do to be safe at work, as well as who they can talk to about work health and safety, so they can get home safely. They are, after all, the most valuable package.”
As a national policy body, Safe Work Australia is a collaborative entity, its members representing the Commonwealth, states, and territories, as well as workers and employers. It functions to achieve healthier, safer, and more productive workplaces through improvements to Work Health and Safety (WHS) and workers’ compensation arrangements.
While not a regulator itself, Safe Work Australia plays a crucial role in the development and promotion of safe work practices across the country. The launch of the “Deliver Yourself Home Safely” campaign is a testament to its commitment to safeguarding Australia’s workforce.
Safe Work Australia urges all food delivery workers across Australia to utilise the resources provided and to equip themselves with knowledge of safety practices. The campaign’s message is simple yet vital: deliver yourself home safely. After all, every worker returning home safe and sound at the end of the day is a successful delivery.
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