National Safe Work Month 2025: Spotlight on Road Safety in the Workplace

October marks National Safe Work Month, an annual initiative dedicated to raising awareness and
promoting stronger safety practices across Australian workplaces. This year’s theme, “Safety: every
job, every day,” underscores the importance of embedding safety into all aspects of work life.

One of the most pressing issues highlighted this year is the role of the vehicle as a workplace.
Despite being often overlooked, vehicles are the leading cause of work-related deaths and serious
injuries in Australia. According to Safe Work Australia, 42% of all worker fatalities stem from
vehicle-related incidents. These tragedies not only impact individuals and families but also result in
hidden organisational costs such as lost productivity, long-term injury management, and
reputational damage.

The National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP) is at the forefront of efforts to address this
challenge. With its vision “for all businesses and organisations striving to eliminate workplace road
trauma,” the NRSPP encourages employers to foster a proactive road safety culture. The Program
emphasises that responsibility extends beyond compliance with legal obligations: businesses must
genuinely commit to protecting their workers, which in turn drives higher engagement, better
morale, and stronger productivity. As the NRSPP states, “road safety is simply good business.”

To support this year’s Safe Work Month, the NRSPP is unveiling several new initiatives to be launched soon:

• Partner Measures Assessment Tool (PMAT): A new Program Partner (PP) initiative designed
  to help organisations assess their road safety maturity, identify areas for improvement, and
  take targeted action.
• Grey Fleet Safety Management Model (GFSMM): A practical online tool to support
  organisations in managing their “grey fleet” (vehicles not owned or leased by the business
  but used for work). It highlights gaps, provides resources, and generates secure, confidential
  progress reports for Program Partners.
• NTARC 2025 Major Incident Investigation Report: Set to launch on 8 October, with a
  webinar on 14 October, this report will provide in-depth analysis and lessons from major
  incidents.
• Heavy Vehicle Toolbox Talks Expansion: Thirteen resources will be made available in Arabic,
  Punjabi, and Simplified Chinese, broadening accessibility for Australia’s diverse workforce.

For businesses across the country, these latest NRSPP resources represent an opportunity to take
tangible steps in reducing workplace road trauma. Every employee, at some stage, uses the road in
the course of their work—whether driving, riding, cycling, or walking—making road safety the single
greatest daily risk many workers face.

National Safe Work Month calls on employers to lead by example, engage workers in safety
conversations, and share responsibility for creating safer roads. By embracing these initiatives,
businesses can protect lives, enhance productivity, and strengthen their culture of care.
For more information and to access the new resources, organisations are encouraged to connect
with the NRSPP and contribute to shaping safer workplaces nationwide.

Please contact jerome.carslake@monash.edu for more information.