Year 2006

WorkCover NSW Safe Work Awards - Innovation the Winner

Cutting edge solutions to workplace safety were among the winners of the 2006 WorkCover NSW Safe Work Awards and include a fall from heights prevention device, innovative OHS risk assessment tools and injury prevention strategies.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Commerce, Graham West MP, presented five awards as well as three "highly commended" certificates to successful entrants at the third annual Safe Work Awards held on 18 October at Homebush Bay.

While presenting the awards, Mr West said employers and workers had developed some ingenious solutions to creating safer workplaces and that it was gratifying to see such a high standard of submissions from the 84 entrants.

The award for Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue went to Waterloo company JLG ProLift for its innovative personnel lift. The lift was developed to boost productivity and eliminate the risk of falls from ladders in the workplace. Known as the Liftpod, it provides a safe, battery powered portable personnel lift at an affordable price for ladder users.

William Carey Christian School at Prestons collected the award for Best workplace health and safety management system. Over the past four years, the school has implemented an extensive OHS management system to develop policies and targets, address injury management and organise training activities.

Best workplace health and safety practices in a small business went to Beverley Park company Platinum Freight Management for its system to maintain a safe and healthy workplace for staff, visitors and contractors at its customs brokerage operation.

RailCorp's Inner West/Bankstown Health and Safety Environment Committee won the Public sector leadership award for injury prevention and management. The committee received the award after implementing a range of OHS improvements including inspections for 31 stations within the region, mentoring of front line staff and the development of new workplace manuals.

The title of Best individual contribution to workplace health and safety was shared between Ron Christianson, a Transport Workers Union delegate from Toll Ipec at Moorebank, and Robert Petrovski from the TNT Express Mascot depot.

Ron Christianson implemented the development of safe driving plans for all drivers working with Toll Ipec and as a result of his work, all drivers are appropriately inducted and a system of monitoring driving hours has been introduced.

Robert Petrovski is a health and safety representative whose application of the consultative process, coupled with a rational approach, has made an exceptional difference to health and safety at TNT Express.

Special "highly commended" certificates were awarded to EMT JV for their work on the Sydney Water Ocean Outfall Sewer Rehabilitation Project, the Hunter Region SLSA Helicopter Rescue Service for its safety management system, and Homelessness NSW/ACT for the development of a Client Risk Assessment Tool.

This year's award winners will also be entered in their respective category in the national Safe Work Australia Awards to be held next year.