Health, Safety and Wellbeing

Building capability and culture to empower team members to make safer decisions

Safety starts with people who feel confident to speak up and empowered to make good decisions. We build this through practical learning, clear expectations and positive leadership.

Safety learning and induction

Team members receive role-specific inductions, on-the-job training and refresher training to help them understand relevant risks and make safer choices together.

Our learning programs help team members and leaders contribute to a positive safety culture.

Safety leadership

Leaders play a key role in helping teams make safer, healthier choices. We support leaders with training and tools to set clear expectations, make informed decisions, consult with teams and respond effectively to concerns.

Leaders are supported through dedicated store and site safety leadership training, as well as mental health and psychosocial hazard training.

Safety awareness campaigns

Regular safety awareness campaigns bring important safety and wellbeing topics to life through resources, team conversations and activities.

Initiatives such as Safety Week encourage teams to identify hazards, manage risks and take action, helping strengthen shared accountability and a proactive safety culture across Coles.

Consultation and continuous improvement

Team members are encouraged to participate in safety decisions, share feedback and contribute to reviews of work practices, risk controls and improvement opportunities.

Consultation and continuous improvement are embedded in our teams’ ways of working through safety committees, team huddles, Safety Walk and Talks, dedicated reporting lines and other feedback channels.

Designing smarter, simpler workplaces by removing barriers and making safety intuitive in everything we do

At Coles, we use risk assessments, data, technology and team member insights to continuously improve the environments where people work and shop.

Managing threatening situations

We use a prevention, protection and care approach to help manage the risks associated with customer aggression and violence. This includes risk-based planning, de-escalation learning, duress device technology and targeted controls, with support available to team members following an incident.

Manual handling and ergonomic equipment

We reduce physical demands by improving task design and providing fit-for-purpose equipment, including bin-moving equipment, electric pallet jacks and self-levelling bakery and produce trolleys.

Coles Online vehicle and delivery safety

Our programs support safer driving, loading and delivery through specialised training, vehicle and equipment controls, licence management, duress checks and guidance for changing conditions.

Safer stores, plant and equipment

We continue to improve store environments through traffic management, slip and trip controls, equipment reviews and safer work practices.

We also actively consult team members on design input for new concepts and changes.

Keeping our people ready and supported by preventing injuries as a priority and providing care and recovery when they happen

We support team members to prevent minor discomfort or injury from becoming more serious through timely care, physiotherapy, early intervention, injury management and return-to-work support.

Bodycare physiotherapy program

Our Bodycare program provides access to physiotherapy advice, assessment and treatment for musculoskeletal discomfort and early symptoms through on-site and network-based services.

Early intervention program

Early clinical triage and advice help team members access the right support quickly, understand next steps and begin recovery planning before an issue becomes more serious.

Injury management

We work with injured team members and their treating practitioners to plan suitable duties and support a safe, sustainable return to work.

Prevention and recovery support

Workplace adjustments, recovery planning and evidence-based assessments help identify barriers early and support team members to rebuild capacity safely.

Supporting team members to stay healthy, psychologically safe and at their best every day

Our approach brings together practical resources, campaigns, leadership capability, confidential support and external partnerships across mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing.

We also focus on creating psychologically safe workplaces where team members can speak up and seek support early.

Coles Care

Coles Care brings everything together in one easy-to-use portal. It includes resources, tools and services across mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing, including healthy habits, stress and sleep, relationships, everyday pressures and leader support.

Wellbeing programs and campaigns

Year-round programs and campaigns help make wellbeing visible and practical.

Wellness Week encourages small, achievable steps towards better health. R U OK? Day promotes regular check-ins and open conversations. Our Financial Wellbeing Program, led by The Barefoot Investor author Scott Pape, provides accessible financial wellbeing education and tools.

Mental health and personal support

We build capability to help leaders recognise signs of distress, respond appropriately and support psychologically safe workplaces.

Our approach includes psychosocial risk prevention and reporting, resources for teams following difficult events, and free and confidential counselling support for team members and their immediate family.

Strategic mental health partnerships

Partnerships help us learn and extend our positive impact.

Through partnerships with the Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia, The Resilience Project School Wellbeing Program and Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, we promote workplace mental health and wellbeing