Road to Recovery – The Workplace After a Fatal Emergency

One of the most challenging situations any business can face is dealing with the aftermath of a workplace fatality.

It’s not just about compliance—it’s about the people, the hearts and minds of those who count on a safe workplace every day. What is the right thing to do? 

In 2023, Victoria reported 66 confirmed workplace fatalities. Each workplace fatality is a real person- a friend or colleague who came to work, expecting to go home at the end of the day but didn’t.

Providing Support to Employees

A workplace fatality can have a profound impact on other workers in that workplace and those associated with the workplace and the incident, affecting their mental health, morale, and perception of safety at work.

The PCBU needs to be ready to provide the necessary support, including:  

• Psychological support and counselling. Remind people to make use of the EAP (employee assistance program). 
• Maintaining open communication and encouraging people to talk about how they are feeling.
• Offering group support sessions. If you feel that people may not reach out, you could arrange for a group counselling session at the workplace. Acknowledging others have the same feelings may help people feel able to ask for help.

Engaging with External Support and Resources

You may also consider engaging with external resources and support to enhance workplace safety. You can utilise Government resources such as training materials, support programs, guidelines and codes of practice to stay updated on best practices and regulatory changes. You can also consult with safety experts to conduct in-depth audits or provide advice on improving your safety practices.

Engaging with Your Workforce

Moving forward isn’t easy, but as a leader you must take initiative to protect those who trust their lives to your business.

> Look for an increase in sick leave or people coming to work looking uncared for. Or you notice them saying & doing things that are out of character. These are signs of people who may not be coping.

> Promoting a Safety-First culture & conducting strategic meetings to improve workplace safety can also show workers that you have taken their concerns on board.

Building Resilience in the Workplace

Of all the steps that form part of recovery, building resilience is possibly the toughest. Building resilience is essential to helping your people recover from a traumatic incident and preparing them for future challenges.

Foster an environment where people feel supported, valued, and confident in their ability to overcome challenges. 

Managing psychosocial thoughts and behaviours is a great way to strengthen skills in stress management, communication, and adaptability, helping people to work on their mental health. 

Monitor your workers and check in with them to see how they are going.  

Communication Strategy for Moving Forward

A clear and effective communication strategy is essential to restore confidence and trust within your business. Address concerns from your employees, provide transparent updates and celebrate achievements to reinforce a positive safety culture. 

By focusing on recovery, compliance, support and fostering resilience, the workplace can once again become a place that feels safe & IS safe.

There is no correct timeframe for people to feel safe again. Everyone has their own past experiences that help to develop their resilience.

You may have someone who walks back into the workplace, smells the fresh paint & for them, the healing is complete. Others will pull into the carpark or walk through the door & palpitations will start “I remember that day when…..”.  Expect it to be a bumpy ride for some time.  There will come a time when even though there may still be sadness, the workplace will no longer hold that fear.