Brighton East, Victoria Feb 1, 2023 (Issuewire.com) - The Safety Governance Foundation has appointed the Hon Tim Wilson as Chair in a move expected to increase the focus of company boards, management, and governments on workplace safety.

The Safety Governance Foundation was set up three years ago to have boards and senior management refocus their efforts on safety initiatives, compliance, and transparency - safety is a key component of governance. Data indicates safety is an issue that is slipping from company priorities.

Mr. Wilson said he was delighted to be taking the reins for an organisation that was focussing on safety governance. "When I left politics, I wanted to continue the important work I was doing in ESG, I have worried for some time that while sustainability is incredibly important, the senior leadership of many companies appears to have taken their 'eyes off the ball' in terms of safety.

"You only have to look at the horrendous statistics from around the world to see that safety must be at the forefront of management's thinking.  The result of not being safety conscious is not only costly, but it is also unacceptable to have people in your organisation not being properly protected at work.  It is a key management and board responsibility to ensure companies manage safety proactively," Mr. Wilson said.

The Safety Governance Foundation has been rethinking the way organisations around the globe focus on the safety of workplaces as a result of the data.

"In 2020, 194 people lost their lives at work or as a bystander impacted work[1]. Apart from the obvious obligation we have for caring for our workforce, a recent report from Safe Work Australia said a reduction in work-related injury and illness would result in a $28.6 billion boost to the Australian economy and create 185,500 more jobs per year[2]," Mr. Wilson said.

Workers' compensation schemes are also feeling the impact, with both the New South Wales[3] and the Victoria[4] State Schemes requiring financial support of more than $1.9 and $1.3 billion dollars respectively to bolster their schemes.

"A renewed focus on safety will have a significant financial impact on organisations around the country. We need to create this new focus on the human impacts of our work to ensure a more sustainable future.

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"With the increasing focus on the actions of directors, executives, and even ministers, it is timely to remind people that the safety of our workforce and the public is paramount.

"I look forward to working with a talented board and taking the message of a safer workplace to the boardrooms of Australia. The Safety Governance Foundation will ensure that there are global best practice sharing and education available to all Australian companies", Mr. Wilson said.

ENDS

BACKGROUND:

The Hon Tim Wilson

Tim Wilson served as the Federal Member for the Division of Goldstein from 2016 to 2022. Mr. Wilson served as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Economics from 2018 to 2021 and as the Assistant Minister to the Minister for Industry, Energy, and Emissions Reduction from 2021 to 2022. 

Before entering politics, Mr. Wilson served as Australia's Human Rights Commissioner from 2014 to 2016.

The Safety Governance Foundation

The Safety Governance Foundation is an independent, apolitical, member-based not-for-profit organisation providing safety governance education, research, and advocacy to support its 680 member organisations.  Members represent over $891 billion dollars in revenue (46% of Australia's GDP) and engage over 10.8 million workers (92% of Australia's workforce).

[1] Safe Work Australia 2021 - Work-related injury fatalities Key WHS statistics Australia 2020

[2] Safe Work Australia 2022 - Safer, healthier, wealthier: The economic value of reducing work-related injuries and illnesses - summary report

[3] ABC News Aug 2022 - NSW government forced to spend $1.9bn bailing out workers' insurance scheme icare

[4] The Australian 31 Dec 2022 - Andrews government gears up to hit Victorian employers