Origin Alliance (QLD), Agi-Kleen Pty Ltd (NSW), Zemek Engineering Pty Ltd (QLD), Temtrol Technologies Pty Ltd (TAS), Harold Roeding from the Department of Primary Industries (VIC), and Paul Gear from the Gold Coast City Council (QLD) took out the prestigious awards for top work health and safety initiatives in Australia.
In congratulating the Award winners and finalists Mr Shorten recognised the difference this year’s entrants had made to protecting the lives of their fellow workers.
“The organisations and individuals honoured in this year’s Awards have all shown what can be achieved through passion and dedication to work health and safety,” Mr Shorten said.
“The 29 finalists have all led by example in their industry to make workplaces across our nation safer.”
Finalists honoured by the Awards represent a wide variety of industries including mining, construction, healthcare, transport and sales. Their safety initiatives range from solutions removing the risk of death to everyday systems keeping their workers safe from common injuries like strains and sprains.
“More than 200 people die in Australia each year from a work-related injury with a further 170 000 people injured badly enough to need five or more days off work,” Mr Shorten said.
“This simply isn’t good enough. Families should not have to suffer the loss of a loved one because of substandard work health and safety practices.
“Through the efforts and commitment of people like this year’s Awards finalists, the safety culture in our nation is improving.
“The initiatives, systems and solutions put in place by this year’s finalists are reducing the risk of harm to thousands of workers across Australia each and every day.
“Congratulations to this year’s finalists on your achievements and thank you for helping to make of healthy, safe and productive working lives for all Australians.”
The Safe Work Australia Awards showcase the best in workplace safety solutions, innovations and systems across our nation. Finalists in each of the five Awards categories were winners in the state, territory or Comcare awards. An independent Awards judging panel considered each submission before deciding on the final winners
More information about the 8th annual Safe Work Australia Awards can be found at www.swa.gov.au
The full list of winners is below.
Mr Shorten’s Media Contact: Jessica Lindell 0408 642 804
8th ANNUAL SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA AWARDS
WINNERS
Category 1 Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System
Winner: Origin Alliance (Queensland)
Highly Commended: Veolia Transport Perth Pty Ltd (Western Australia)
Category 2 Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue
Winner: Agi-Kleen Pty Ltd (News South Wales)
Highly Commended: Sinclair Knight Merz and Balfour Beatty UGL (Western Australia)
Category 3 Best Workplace Health and Safety Practice/s in a Small Business
Winners (joint): Zemek Engineering Pty Ltd (Queensland)
Temtrol Technologies Pty Ltd (Tasmania)
Category 4a Best Individual Contribution to Workplace Health and Safety—by an employee
Winner: Harold Roeding – Department of Primary Industries (Victoria)
Category 4b Best Individual Contribution to Workplace Health and Safety—by a WHS manager
Winner: Paul Gear – Gold Coast City Council (Queensland)
Highly Commended: Megan Evans - Department of Human Services (Comcare)
