Award Categories
The Awards categories for 2008 are:
The Categories Explained
Category 1: Best workplace health and safety management system
This award recognises demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement of workplace health and safety outcomes through the implementation of an integrated systems approach.
Judging Criteria
For entry in this category, submissions must show the following:
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How clearly does the system achieve a demonstrated commitment to workplace health and safety?
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Information provided could include demonstrated management commitment to the systematic management of occupational health and safety (OHS) and injury management, ongoing planning of OHS improvement and evaluation of the system, systematic identification, assessment and control strategies for the organisation’s hazards.
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To what extent was the integrated approach developed in consultation with workplace parties and, where appropriate, with outside organisations?
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How well is the approach integrated into the overall operations of the company?
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Has there been a demonstrated improvement in health and safety in the workplace as a result of the integrated approach?
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How much potential is there for the system to have broader application across other workplaces and industry?
Please provide evidence of your organisation's systems approach by including in your submission:
- An external audit report conducted within the previous two years
- Evidence of control measures in place
- Claims or incident/injury data for at least the previous 12 months
- Evidence of occupational health and safety reporting and consultation
- Any other evidence to show a systems based approach. For example, a systems approach demonstrates that all elements function according to fundamental rules, that analysis of the elements can be completed with a consistent auditing approach and each part of the overall system can itself be studied as a complete system. In a systematic approach short term goals are continually set and met, and are seen as contributing to the "higher" goal of elimination of risks to health and safety, improving the viability of the business and contributing to the well being of anyone affected by the business operations.
Category 2: Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
This award recognises excellence in developing and implementing a solution to an identified health and safety issue. Entries for this award may include a product solution, engineering innovation, a training program, an awareness raising activity or other risk control measures that reduce the risk of work-related injury and illness.
Judging Criteria
For entry in this category submissions must show the following:
- (a) What is the workplace health and safety issue?
(b) What was the solution implemented to address the issue?
- What form of risk management system or process was used to identify the issue?
- How was the hierarchy of control applied to develop the solution?
- How effective was the solution for the control of the identified hazard?
- To what extent was the solution developed in consultation with workplace parties and, if appropriate, outside organisations?
- How original and innovative was the solution?
- How well did the solution impact on the overall operations of the company?
- Has there been a demonstrated improvement in health and safety in the workplace as a result of the solution? (provide claims or incident/injury data and any other occupational health and safety reporting as evidence)
- How much potential is there for the solution to have broader application across industry?
Category 3: Best workplace health and safety practices in a small business
Are you are a small business that has improved safety in your workplace with a great idea or a new approach? Then enter the Safe Work Awards.
Concerned about writing your application? Don't worry, if needed, a Business Advisory Officer can provide assistance with your application and make sure you have completed everything you need to submit a great entry. Please email businessassist@workcover.nsw.gov.au for assistance.
This award recognises high standard workplace health and safety practices in small business. This may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- solutions to identified risks;
- an innovative and systematic approach to OHS management; or
- any other practice that has improved occupational health and safety performance in your business.
This category is limited to small business that have less than 20 employees or full-time equivalents.
Judging Criteria
To enter in this category your submission needs to detail the following:
- (a) Describe your innovative and systematic workplace health & safety practice/s.
(b) Describe the reason why it was developed?
- Describe who was involved and how they participated in the development of your workplace health
& safety practice/s.
Include in your application examples such as:
- to what extent employees were involved
- whether discussions were held through a OH & S committee (for small business this may not be applicable)
- testimonials from happy clients, customers etc
- whether outside consultants were involved in the development; and or
- anyone else who was involved in the development
3. How did you develop this workplace health & safety practice/s?
Describe how you did this with examples such as:
- how you eliminated the risk
- how you used a substitute
- how you used an engineering control and/or
- how administrative controls were put in place
4. Describe how you implemented this health & safety practice/s into your workplace?
Describe how you did this with examples such as:
- communicating with staff
- training employees, and/or
- explaining how you monitored the progress of the practice/s
5. Describe how the workplace health & safety practice/s has benefited your business?
Detail what the benefits are by providing examples and evidence that supports your application such as testimonials, photos, increase in morale and/or productivity, financial gain, raised awareness and other.
Category 4: Public sector leadership award for injury prevention and management
This award recognises government organisations that demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement in occupational health and safety (OHS) and injury management performance through the application of leadership and best practice in the workplace.
This award is open to all levels of government (federal, state and local) and includes departments, agencies, authorities and government business enterprises.
Judging Criteria
For judging in this award category your submission must show the following:
1. How your agency demonstrates leadership in injury prevention and return to work, as evidenced through:
- assessment and reporting on OHS performance with the use of continuous improvement principles (implementing, monitoring and review);
AND / OR
- best practice in risk management and injury prevention;
AND / OR
- fostering a safety culture
2. How your agency reviews, integrates with other departmental systems and continually improves its OHS management system.
3. What outcomes your agency has achieved as a result of your initiatives including achieving
key national OHS targets set out in the National OHS Strategy 2002-20012 and/or targets
set by state or territory governments.
4. How your agency influences the OHS practices of external parties to improve OHS outcomes.
Your application should be supported with the provision of evidence including:
- size and scope of your oganisation
- an external audit report conducted by a 3rd party auditor within the previous 2 years
- evidence of how senior management demonstrate safety leadership
- evidence of how staff awareness and engagement is evaluated
- evidence of effective risk control measures in place
- claims data trends for the previous 2-3 years
- OHS reporting and consultative mechanisms
- internal review and evaluation mechanisms
- extent of consultation throughout agency
- any other evidence to support your entry
Category 5: Best individual contribution to workplace health and safety
This award recognises an individual, such as a health and safety representative, who is not a management employee, and whose contribution has made an exceptional difference to health and safety in their workplace.
Judging Criteria
For entry in this category submissions must show the following:
- What were the individual’s health and safety achievements/ contributions and how were they accomplished?
- What barriers, if any, were encountered while implementing them?
- How were the improvements in health and safety performance measured?
- In what way was the individual’s approach and contribution innovative in achieving better OHS performance?
- Describe how the individual’s impact on health and safety management and performance was above and beyond their immediate field/ area of responsibility.
- What is the potential for the individual’s contribution to have broader application?
- What communication and consultation processes were required/ used to implement their achievements/ contribution?
Supporting material can be supplied to assist in demonstrating claims to the above criteria.
This could include, but is not limited to:
- claims and incident/ injury data
- other OHS reporting information
