Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Awards?
The WorkCover NSW Safe Work Awards is an annual event, designed to promote and recognise high standards of occupational health and safety in NSW workplaces. It was first held in 2004.
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Why Enter?
The benefits of entering the Safe Work Awards are:
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Recognition of your business as a leader in workplace safety within your industry
- Use of the prestigious WorkCover SafeWork Awards ‘winner’ and ‘finalist’ logos for business promotion
- Winners of each category are given two free tickets to the Safety Show and Conference
- All finalists receive two free tickets to the SafeWork Awards 2008 black tie dinner
- All finalists receive two free tickets to the Awards dinner and overnight accommodation including breakfast
- Two return airfare tickets for finalists from regional areas
- Case studies of winners and finalists are promoted on WorkCover's website and the Safe Work Award website
- Winners in each category will automatically be entered in the National Safe Work Australia Awards
- All finalists are promoted in the "Awards Booklet" and on the WorkCover NSW website
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An opportunity for your business to showcase your innovations in workplace health and safety.
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Who is not eligible to enter?
- Organisations that are currently under investigation by WorkCover NSW
- Organisations that are not registered as a NSW business
- Organisations that do not have a current workers compensation insurance
- Organisations that have won an award cannot resubmit the same initiative/solution etc
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Hint for writing your entry?
- Before writing your entry ask yourself how has the initiative improved safety in my business/company?
It needs to be over and above your normal OHS legislative requirements.
- What safety solution or initiative have I developed? Is it innovative? How has it improved my business?
Be able to provide examples and demonstrate the successful business outcomes achieved as a result.
- Remember the judges may not necessarily be familiar with your industry so try and use plain English and avoid using jargon.
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What is the aim of the Awards?
Raise awareness of occupational health and safety (OHS) and promote high standards of health and safety in NSW workplaces.
- Encourage innovation in OHS.
- Provide a forum for sharing ideas and solutions to workplace health and safety issues.
- Publicly recognise and reward outstanding workplace health and safety innovations and achievements.
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Why does WorkCover hold these Awards?
The Awards have been established to encourage public and private workplaces throughout NSW to develop and implement initiatives that help to achieve a safer work environment.
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What are the Awards categories for 2008?
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Best workplace health and safety management system
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Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
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Best workplace health and safety practices in a small business - NEW Criteria
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Public sector leadership award for injury prevention and management - NEW Criteria
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Best individual contribution to workplace health and safety
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How do I get an application form?
Enter online , download an application form or email us on swa@workcover.nsw.gov.au to request a hardcopy application.
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When do entries open and close and how are winners announced?
- Awards open on 9am Monday 5 May 2008
- Awards close at 5pm Friday 11 July 2008
- Winners are announced at the Awards Ceremony and Dinner on Wednesday 29 October 2008
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What is WorkCover NSW seeking from the entries?
WorkCover is seeking excellence, innovation, outstanding commitment, and solutions to occupational health and safety issues in the workplace. The Awards also seek to recognise leadership by individuals or organisations that contribute towards achieving safe and healthy workplaces in NSW.
Solutions : WorkCover NSW is seeking solutions to workplace health and safety issues. The ideas don't have to be big to be effective. Sometimes small-scale solutions can be most effective in dealing with identified issues.
Leadership : Activities by individuals or organisations – this covers the work done within a workplace by health and safety representatives, committees, managers, individuals or an entire organisation.
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Who can enter the WorkCover NSW Safe Work Awards?
For 2008, there are five Award categories. These categories are open to all NSW registered businesses, organisations and individuals and include categories that specifically recognise innovation in small business and those NSW employees who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement of health and safety in their workplaces.
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What should an entry consist of?
Entrants are required to submit an application form and a written submission for each category entered. Each category has a number of specific judging criteria that are explained within each relevant category.
Entries may be submitted by individual applicants or organisations (see Who can enter for specific information on each category's entry requirements). Individuals or organisations may also be nominated for an award by another party. See How to Enter for more detailed information.
NB. A checklist has been included in the application process for your convenience.
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What should the hardcopy application include?
- 4 unbound copies - please no binding or folders
- 4 copies of any CDs or DVDs to support each copy of your entry
- A completed entry submission as explained in How to Enter and/or in related sections, including a 200-300 word summary of both the initiative or innovation and your company profile, as well as any supporting materials, e.g. photographs or audio-visual material.
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How do you submit an entry to the Awards?
Online
Use the online application system .
Mail
Send completed entries to:
WorkCover NSW
Safe Work Awards 2008
Locked Bag 2906
Lisarow NSW 2252
Hand-delivered
Deliver completed entries to:
WorkCover NSW
Safe Work Awards 2008
Level 2, 90-100 Donnison Street
Gosford NSW 2250
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Can more than one entry be submitted?
Yes. You will be required to submit a separate application form for each category entered, addressing the criteria for that category.
NB: Please do not submit the same entry in every category.
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How does the assessment and judging of the entries take place?
The judging process is as follows:
Stage 1: Initial review
All entries are reviewed by an internal assessment panel of occupational health and safety experts from WorkCover NSW. The role of this panel is to identify those entries, that are of sufficient quality to progress to the next stage of a site visit.
Stage 2: Site Visit
Site Visits are conducted by the assessment panel, made up of experienced WorkCover NSW Inspectors, specialists or authorised representative of WorkCover NSW. The role of the site visit is to substantiate the information provided in the entry. During site visits, the assessors may need to speak to a number of different people. Based on their on-site assessment they may also need to obtain additional information.
Stage 3: Judging
Following a successful site visit, entries then progress to the final stage of judging as a Finalist in their category. The Final Judging Panel will include senior representatives from WorkCover NSW, trade unions, employer groups and specialist OHS advisory bodies. Winners are announced at the SafeWork Awards Black Tie Dinner on the 29 October 2008.
Applicants are advised the outcome of each stage of the judging process via a letter.
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Who is on the Finalists Judging Panel?
The Finalists Judging Panel for the Awards will include senior representatives from WorkCover NSW, trade unions, employer groups and specialist OHS advisory bodies.
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What is the requirement for Intellectual Property all about?
For entries involving innovations or inventions it is a condition of entry for an Awards entrant to own all the intellectual property rights for the concept where this is relevant. The only additional matter is the requirement for the entrant to confirm, via the entry form, such ownership.
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Is any permanent record made of the Awards?
Yes, photographs will be taken of the recipients receiving their awards and an electronic copy will be emailed to you after the awards ceremony.
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The hierarchy of hazard controls is a list which emphasises controlling a hazard at the source. This is done by giving preference to the use of the 'engineering controls' outlined in strategies 1 to 5.
Engineering Controls
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DESIGN. Try to ensure that hazards are 'designed out' when new materials, equipment and work systems are being planned for the workplace.
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REMOVE the hazard or SUBSTITUTE less hazardous materials, equipment or substances.
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ADOPT A SAFER PROCESS. Alterations to tools, equipment or work systems can often make them much safer.
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ENCLOSE OR ISOLATE THE HAZARD through the use of guards or remote handling techniques.
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PROVIDE EFFECTIVE VENTILATION through local or general exhaust ventilation systems. Administrative Controls
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ESTABLISH appropriate ADMINISTRATIVEPROCEDURES such as:
- job rotation to reduce exposure or boredom, or timing the job so that fewer workers are exposed
- routine maintenance and housekeeping procedures
- training on hazards and correct work procedures.
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What do the Award recipients receive?
Award recipients will be presented with a trophy and certificate and finalists will receive a certificate, together with Award ceremony photos and Safe Work Award "winner" & "finalist" logos.
Refer to Benefits of Applying
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What if I need help with my application?
For small business operators you can email a WorkCover small business Business Advisory Officer on Businessassist@workcover.nsw.gov.au
For all other requests for assistance please email swa@workcover.nsw.gov.au or phone 131050
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What if I've forgotten my login password?
Email swa@workcover.nsw.gov.au with your details and your password will be sent back to you promptly.
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Can our business still apply if we are already involved in another WorkCover program?
Yes, being involved in another WorkCover program does not affect your application.
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How are those entrants informed of the judging outcome?
Award recipients will be announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 29 October 2008. Finalists will be advised prior to the event. However, award recipients will not be advised prior to the awards ceremony .
Refer also to Awards Entry Process Flowchart
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Can entrants seek feedback on their entries?
Yes, by emailing swa@workcover.nsw.gov.au post 30 October 2008 Awards Black Tie Dinner
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Apart from the awards ceremony, will WorkCover publicise the recipients?
Yes, an article will be featured in the December 2008/January 2009 edition of WorkCover News and recipients will be listed on this website.
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Our organisation has developed a really high quality solution to a problem we have had. But we are being investigated because of a serious incident, which occurred some months ago. Can we enter the Awards?
No. WorkCover NSW reserves the right, acting in its sole discretion, to decline an entry where the entrant or a related person or organisation is under investigation for possible breaches of occupational health and safety or workers compensation law (whether or not a prosecution is pending), or where the acceptance of the entry may be detrimental to the objectives of the Awards scheme.
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We have developed a really good solution for a problem in our workplace. It is currently being trialled before it is implemented into the rest of the workplace. Can we enter this solution in the Awards?
WorkCover prefers to receive entries that have been fully developed and implemented in all the appropriate areas of the workplace. Additionally some evaluation of the effectiveness of the solution is required to confirm its success. Such entries have more conviction and credibility and provide more confidence to those judging the entries.
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Our business has developed what we think is a really good product which we intend to sell to others. Can we enter it in the Awards?
In principle there is nothing to prevent a business entering commercial products or services in the Awards.
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Does it make any difference if the entry is basically at the level of complying with what the legislation requires?
WorkCover's policy is that all workplaces should be complying with what the legislation requires at all times. The Awards are not intended to provide recognition to those who have only sought to comply with their obligations.
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What happens if the WorkCover Inspector who conducts the site visit finds that an entry does not comply with the law?
Generally the Inspector responds no differently from any other occasion on observing non-compliances with the legislation on an Awards visit. Additionally, this usually means this entry is eliminated from the Awards.
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What are the conditions of entry?
Read the Terms and Conditions of entry for the 2008 WorkCover NSW Safe Work Awards.
