--- title: Safe Work Month - Safety Starts Here - A message from CEO Graeme Hurn description: October is Safe Work Month. Safety Starts Here. image: https://blog.programmed.com.au/hubfs/Internal%20Comms/CEO%20and%20ELT/safety%20month%20ceo%20blog%20(1).png --- [![PRG-Endt-Horz-RGB150](https://blog.programmed.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/PFM%20Internal%20Comms/PRG-Endt-Horz-RGB150.png?width=300&height=107&name=PRG-Endt-Horz-RGB150.png "PRG-Endt-Horz-RGB150")](https://programmed.com.au/) - [Intranet](https://intranet.programmed.com.au/) - [Home](https://blog.programmed.com.au/newshub) - [Intranet](https://intranet.programmed.com.au/) - [Home](https://blog.programmed.com.au/newshub) ![Safe Work Month - Safety Starts Here - A message from CEO Graeme Hurn](https://blog.programmed.com.au/hubfs/Internal%20Comms/CEO%20and%20ELT/safety%20month%20ceo%20blog%20(1).png) # *Sep 29, 2026, 10:30:00 AM | [Safety](https://blog.programmed.com.au/newshub/tag/safety)* Safe Work Month - Safety Starts Here - A message from CEO Graeme Hurn October is Safe Work Month. Safety Starts Here. All of us will find ourselves in moments where the decisions we make can affect our safety or the safety of someone around us, no matter our role or location. This year’s National Safe Work Month theme, Safe work is for life, drives home the impact that even small decisions can have long after the job itself is finished. Across Programmed, we’ll be using Safe Work Month to continue our focus on [Safety Starts Here](https://blog.programmed.com.au/newshub/safety-starts-here-take-5-before-every-job). For me, that message comes back to the decisions we make at the beginning of our work. We can have the right procedures and systems in place, but we also need to be alert to what is happening around us and be prepared to respond when things change. Sometimes that means stopping before starting a task to think through the risks. At other times, it might mean speaking up when something doesn’t look right or changing the way we’re working because the conditions aren’t what we expected. During October, we’ll be looking more closely at an idea that supports this approach: ‘What if?’ **Asking 'what if?'** ![3](https://blog.programmed.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Internal%20Comms/Safety/3.jpg?width=450&height=300&name=3.jpg) When we approach a task that we’ve done many times before, it’s natural to have an expectation of how it’s all going to work out - asking ‘what if?’ encourages us to look beyond that expectation. What has changed since the last time the work was done? Is there something we’ve assumed will go a certain way? What happens if it doesn’t? These questions don’t need to make our work more complicated, but they can give us a chance to identify something we may otherwise have missed and make a different decision before someone is put at risk. We also recognise that our work is carried out in often complex and changing environments. That’s why we’re focused on building strong, resilient controls that continue to protect our people, assets, and the environment when things don’t go to plan. It’s worth thinking about this in the context of your own work - if something unexpected happened during a task, what would prevent it from becoming a serious incident? And are the controls you’re relying on enough? Safe Work Month across Programmed ![2](https://blog.programmed.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Internal%20Comms/Safety/2.jpg?width=450&height=300&name=2.jpg) Throughout October, there will be opportunities across Programmed to continue these conversations and think differently about the work we do every day. This year’s National Safe Work Month themes look at why work health and safety matters and the impact our decisions can have over time. The final week focuses on the part we all play in creating safer workplaces. You’ll see these themes reflected in toolbox talks and conversations with leaders, as well as activities and stories from teams across the business. I encourage you to get involved where you can, and use the month as an opportunity to have open conversations about safety within your own team. Our commitment to Zero Harm ![1](https://blog.programmed.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Internal%20Comms/Safety/1.jpg?width=450&height=300&name=1.jpg) Safe Work Month gives us a particular occasion to focus on these issues, but they are an ongoing priority throughout the year. Our commitment to Zero Harm is about making sure everyone who comes to work at Programmed can return home safe and well. Achieving that relies on the decisions we make every day and our willingness to act when something isn’t right. As you go about your work this October, take the time to consider what could change and whether the controls you have in place will keep people safe if it does. Thank you for continuing to look out for yourself and those around you.   Take care and stay safe, Graeme Hurn Chief Executive Officer Programmed ## More Recent Posts #### [![Safe Work Month - Safety Starts Here - A message from CEO Graeme Hurn](https://blog.programmed.com.au/hubfs/Internal%20Comms/CEO%20and%20ELT/safety%20month%20ceo%20blog%20(1).png) *Sep 29, 2026, 10:30:00 AM | Safety* Safe Work Month - Safety Starts Here - A message from CEO Graeme Hurn](https://blog.programmed.com.au/newshub/safe-work-month-safety-starts-here-a-message-from-ceo-graeme-hurn) #### [![Work and Smile Selfie Challenge - Different Jobs, One Programmed - September edition](https://blog.programmed.com.au/hubfs/Internal%20Comms/Work%20and%20Smile/Selfie%20Challenge/selfie%20challenge%20sept%2026.png) *Sep 24, 2026, 11:38:52 AM | Work and Smile* Work and Smile Selfie Challenge - Different Jobs, One Programmed - September edition](https://blog.programmed.com.au/newshub/work-and-smile-selfie-challenge-different-jobs-one-programmed-september-edition) #### [![Celebrating Programmed's Long Service Legends - September 2026](https://blog.programmed.com.au/hubfs/Internal%20Comms/Culture%20and%20Community/long%20service%20legends%20aug%20blog%20(1).png) *Sep 22, 2026, 3:47:38 PM | Culture & Community* Celebrating Programmed's Long Service Legends - September 2026](https://blog.programmed.com.au/newshub/celebrating-programmeds-long-service-legends-september-2026) [Return Home](https://blog.programmed.com.au/newshub) [![RGB-Endt-Horz-Rev-RGB150](https://blog.programmed.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/PFM%20Internal%20Comms/RGB-Endt-Horz-Rev-RGB150.png?width=500&height=178&name=RGB-Endt-Horz-Rev-RGB150.png "RGB-Endt-Horz-Rev-RGB150")](https://programmed.com.au/)   Level 32 Tower 2, 727 Collins Street, Collins Square, Melbourne, Victoria 3008 [tel:](tel:)   - Programmed Australia - [About](https://programmed.com.au/about/our-company/) - [Our Services](https://programmed.com.au/services/) - [Our Locations](https://programmed.com.au/australia/) - [Latest News](https://programmed.com.au/news-insights/) - [Search Jobs](https://www.jobs.programmed.com.au/jobs/) © Programmed. 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