Winners of the 7th annual Safe Work Australia Awards have been announced, selected from 37 finalists.

 

The winners and highly commended entries are:

 

Category 1a
Best workplace health and safety management system—Private sector

Winner

Grocon Constructors – VIC
Grocon Constructors demonstrate a whole of operations approach to safety. The way they have managed to integrate their safety management system across the entire organisation is very impressive. All Grocon staff are involved in the safety management system, from the Senior Leadership Team, to on site workers and subcontractors. Their management system is efficient, innovative and has achieved real results.

Highly commended

Decmil Australia - WA
Decmil Australia has a very strong safety culture which is highlighted in their workplace health and safety management system. They perform monthly safety performance reviews and their management system is relevant for staff at all levels. Decmil has quantifiable safety outcomes and places strong value on safety capabilities and skills.


Category 1b
Best workplace health and safety management system—Public sector

Winner

ENERGEX - QLD
The ENERGEX work health and safety management system has assisted the company to successfully manage large and unpredictable events such as the Queensland floods and Cyclone Yasi. Energex maintains a strong focus on the safety of their employees as well as personnel from interstate, volunteers and the public.

Highly commended

Public Transport Authority – WA
The Western Australian Public Transport Authority (PTA) is dedicated to safety. It has a no-blame culture which encourages incident and near miss reporting. The safety manager is a dedicated individual and the organisation identifies and supports safety champions. The PTA has also been undertaking ground breaking work to assist drivers to cope with the trauma of suicide.


Category 2
Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue

Winner

The Australian Reinforcing Company - QLD
The Australian Reinforcing Company (ARC) developed innovative solutions to not one but three safety issues that have been challenges in the steel manufacturing industry for some time. Their innovative solutions addressed manual handling, falls and crushing. ARC’s solutions could easily be applied across the steel and construction industry which would benefit many workers.


Highly commended

Wellington Dam Alliance – WA
The Post-tensioning Strand Cutting Module that Wellington Dam Alliance developed is a creative solution to eliminate a significant workplace hazard. It shows thinking outside the box can be both safe and efficient. Wellington Dam Alliance demonstrated outstanding participation and commitment to work health and safety throughout the duration of the project.


Category 3
Best workplace health and safety practice/s in a small business

Winner

The Hub Fruit Bowl – SA
The Hub Fruit Bowl is a family friendly, small business that is passionate about work health and safety. Many young people experience the work environment for the first time with their company and the Hub Fruit Bowl takes their health and safety training seriously. They have a common sense and inclusive approach to health and safety which other retailers could benefit from.


Highly commended

Briar Maritime Services - TAS
Briar Maritime Services workers are on-call and work unpredictable hours. With no appropriate off the shelf solutions available, they developed a tailored self reporting system to manage fatigue. Briar Maritime Services have a genuine belief in managing fatigue and show a strong commitment to safety.


Category 4a
Best individual contribution to workplace health and safety—by an employee

Winner

Leading Seaman Natalie Irvine, Royal Australian Navy – SRCC
Natalie Irvine showed tenacity, persevering to overcome barriers of rank to improve safety both on board the HMAS Parramatta and in the wider fleet. She has demonstrated outstanding personal commitment to work health and safety in difficult circumstances and is a true work health and safety leader.


Category 4b
Best individual contribution to workplace health and safety—by an OHS manager

Winner

Peter Rogers, Jeff Hort Engineering – NSW
Throughout his career, Peter Rogers has gone beyond the call of duty to be a champion of work health safety. He has a genuine passion for safety and regularly communicates with all Jeff Hort workers to ensure safety is at the front of everyone’s mind. For Peter, work health and safety is about more than just compliance, it is a way of life, a passion and an expectation.