Sun Metals has proudly participated in another Safe Work Month campaign, demonstrating the level of commitment to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all team members. Through a series of activities, Sun Metals has reinforced their dedication to creating safer working environments, prioritising team members’ mental health and physical wellbeing.

Safe Work Month, held each October, is an annual campaign led by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland that aims to raise awareness and encourage proactive measures around workplace safety. This year, Sun Metals and sister companies Townsville Logistics and Townsville Marine Logistics, embraced the theme ‘Safety is a journey, let’s walk together’.   

Throughout October, a range of activities were arranged including:

• Safety Presentation: Michael Garrels, Workplace Health and Safety Advocate, delivered his Safe Work Month safety chat and shared his commitment to safety after experiencing a deeply personal tragedy. Michael lost his son, Jason, in a preventable workplace accident in 2012. Michael shared his mission to raise awareness of workplace safety and the importance of taking action before incidents occur.
• Find Ya Feet Workshops: Led by Tommy Hershell and Zac Prior, the Find Ya Feet team delivered multiple workshops providing a safe space for team members to speak up and break down silos around having mental health related conversations. The workshops allowed team members to own their narratives and be open with their peers about how they are really doing. It’s only the start for the Find Ya Feet sessions and we look forward to having them back onsite next year.
• SafeTea Team Packs: This year, each team received a special ‘SafeTea’ pack, designed to bring teams together for meaningful discussions about workplace health and safety over a cup of tea. Each pack included a bamboo reusable keep cup with our safety theme, personalised safety fortune cookies, and safety dice to spark conversation. Many team members joined in the spirit by wearing their TradeMutt or other vibrant, funky shirts, helping to open up the dialogue and make safety discussions engaging and memorable.
• Safety Leadership Sessions: Emphasising the responsibility of leadership in cultivating a safety-first culture, Ray Thompson, ex NRL North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Player, delivered a session to leaders on the power of labelling and identifying emotions, and resilience strategies to support others going through a difficult time.
• Safety Competitions: Fun and engaging competitions throughout October inspired employees to test their safety knowledge with ‘Spot the Hazard’ competitions. The kids didn’t miss out either – we received many beautiful entries in our Safe Work Month colouring-in competition that we have since shared across our site and in our team newsletter.  

Jessica Jenkins, HR & Communication Manager of Sun Metals, Townsville Logistics and Townsville Marine Logistics, commented on the involvement in Safe Work Month, saying, “Across all entities, safety is our top priority. We believe that our people are our most valuable asset, and every measure we take to ensure their well-being is an investment in the strength and success of our company.”

“Safe Work Month reminds us that safety is a continuous journey, one that we proudly commit to year-round.”

Now that Safe Work Month has wrapped up, Sun Metals remains committed to maintaining a culture where safety and well-being are embedded in our daily operations. The initiatives of Safe Work Month serve as a foundation for ongoing safety improvements and empower team members to maintain a safety-first mindset every day.