April 28th, 2026World Day for Safety and Health at Work
The Housing Industry Association has joined organisations across Australia in recognising the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, highlighting the critical importance of both physical and psychological safety in the workplace.
“HIA has long advocated for strong safety practices on site but reminds everyone that safety isn’t constrained to reducing physical injuries,” said HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin.
“This year’s theme for the international day, places a spotlight on psychosocial safety – ensuring workplaces support mental health, wellbeing, and respectful working relationships, which is an issue HIA says is increasingly important across the residential building industry.
“Psychosocial risks such as excessive workloads, unclear roles, poor workplace behaviours, and the pressures associated with project delivery can have a real and lasting impact on workers’ wellbeing. Preventing psychological harm must be treated with the same seriousness as preventing physical injury.
“HIA is encouraging the industry to take an active role in maintaining a mentally healthy workplace by being aware of psychosocial risks, speaking up when issues arise, supporting colleagues, and engaging with available training.
“In an industry as dynamic and demanding as residential construction, creating environments where people feel safe, supported and able to perform at their best is essential, not just for individuals, but for the strength and sustainability of the sector as a whole.
“As the industry continues to navigate workforce pressures and ongoing housing demand, HIA emphasises that prioritising both mental and physical health will remain fundamental to building a resilient and productive workforce.
“The HIA Charitable Foundation also partners with Beyond Blue to support mental health in residential building, and has raised over $1.3 million to fund mental health support services, research and education programs tailored to our industry.
“To reinforce our commitment, HIA has introduced a suite of new initiatives designed to better identify and manage psychosocial risks across our own operations. These include a dedicated Psychosocial Risk Management Procedure, a Psychosocial staff guideline, and access to targeted psychosocial safety training.
“Today is an important reminder that safe work is not just about hard hats and high-vis, it’s about ensuring every worker goes home not just physically, but also mentally well,” concluded Ms Martin.
