Year 2006 - Winners

Mr Graham West MP and WorkCover NSW Chief Executive Officer, Jon Blackwell announced recipients of the WorkCover NSW Safe Work Awards 2006 in Sydney at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 18 October 2006.

The award recipients were:

Category 1 – Best workplace Health and Safety Management System

The award for winner of Category 1 – Best workplace health and safety management system was awarded to William Carey Christian School at Preston NSW. There were two highly commended certificates issued in this category.

The first highly commended was to EMT JV is a joint venture between Earth Tech Engineering Pty Ltd, McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd and Tyco Water Pty Ltd to deliver the Lower South Western Sydney Ocean Outfall Sewer (SWSOOS) Rehabilitation Project for Sydney Water.

The second highly commended was awarded to The Hunter Region Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA)Helicopter Service Ltd

Winner - William Carey Christian School

William Carey Christian School is an independent non-government school with 220 employees. With the changes to occupational health and safety legislation in 2000 and 2001 it was recognised that a mechanism was required to comply with the revised legislation. To achieve this, an occupational health and safety manual was written that forms part of a robust and effective OHS management system.

Over the past four years the school has implemented an extensive training regime. A weekly OHS Management Team meeting was also established to develop policies and targets, process injury management programs, organise training activities, review literature and respond to staff-initiated enquiries.

An extensive consultation process has also been put into place. OHS became the first agenda item for any meeting of the senior executive, executive and individual faculties. OHS representatives conduct toolbox talks where issues can be raised by staff and form the basis for ongoing refinement of OHS policies and procedures at the school.

The OHS manager also reports once per term to the school board, who have input into the policy and procedures. He also regularly reports to staff, via weekly staff meetings, on OHS issues.

Highly Commended - EMT JV

EMT JV is a joint venture between Earth Tech Engineering Pty Ltd, McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd and Tyco Water Pty Ltd to deliver the Lower South Western Sydney Ocean Outfall Sewer (SWSOOS) Rehabilitation Project for Sydney Water. It is the largest project of its type ever undertaken by Sydney Water, and involves the structural repair and lining of 10km of SWSOOS.

The SWSOOS project consisted of subterranean construction, restoration and preservation of heritage-listed structures, coordination with Sydney Airport operations and adjacent communities, management of sensitive environmental issues and, most importantly, health and safety issues arising from working inside the SWSOOS.

The health and safety management system developed and implemented on the SWSOOS project enabled all the project’s objectives to be met safely, on time and on budget. The project team’s safety performance was measured as outstanding in four independent audits commissioned by Sydney Water and was third party certified to AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.

Highly Commended - Hunter Region SLSA Helicopter Rescue Service

The Hunter Region Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA)Helicopter Service Ltd has grown from humble origins to be recognised as one of the premier organisations both within Australia and internationally in the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) field. It now employs over 30 full-time staff, with additional casual and volunteer workers from its two bases in Newcastle and Tamworth.

In 2004 the company implemented a safety management system (SMS) that encompasses and involves all workers in all facets of the HEMS. The implementation of the SMS by the Service has resulted in increased awareness of OHS issues and has allowed a systematic and methodical approach to safety matters.

From the Service’s Board of Directors to workers, a commitment to leaving ‘no stone unturned’ has enhanced the safety of all operations for workers and the community it serves. This has been recognised within Australia by being awarded the prestigious Certificate of Air Safety and Award for Air Safety Excellence.

Category 2 - Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue

The award for winner of Category 2 – Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue was awarded to JLG Prolift Pty Ltd.

A highly commended certificate was also awarded to Homelessness NSW.ACT for coordinating the development of a Client Risk Assessment Tool working in close collaboration with the Youth Accommodation Association, the NSW Women’s Refuge Resource Centre and the NSW Department of Community Services - NGO Training Program.

Winner - JLG Prolift Pty Ltd

JLG ProLift Pty Ltd is a manufacturing company based in Waterloo.

The LIFTPOD by JLG is a lightweight, low cost, battery powered personnel lift developed in Australia to replace ladders within the workplace.

The LIFTPOD has been developed to eliminate the risk of falls from ladders within the workplace and at the same time provide a more productive way to work. The LIFTPOD can elevate up to a platform height of 2.4 metres.

The LIFTPOD can be broken down into four modules: the base, the platform, mast/carriage assembly and the power pack. This allows the LIFTPOD to be transported by a single person, with each component weighing less than 25 kilograms.

JLG ProLift has developed the LIFTPOD with the aim of providing a safe, powered and portable personnel lift at an affordable price for ladder users.

Highly Commended - Homelessness NSW.ACT

Homelessness NSW.ACT is the peak body for the adult homelessness sector in New South Wales. It plays a coordination, advocacy, policy development, leadership and information dissemination role for the adult homelessness sector in the state.

As part of this work, Homelessness NSW.ACT coordinated the development of a Client Risk Assessment Tool working in close collaboration with the Youth Accommodation Association, the NSW Women’s Refuge Resource Centre and the NSW Department of Community Services - NGO Training Program. Age Communications was contracted to develop the tool.

This project produced a valid risk assessment tool for use by Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) funded agencies in NSW that enables them to make informed decisions about a person‘s appropriateness for acceptance as a SAAP client. Training in the use of the Risk Assessment Tool is now being implemented across SAAP services in NSW as a joint project between the homeless peak bodies and the Department of Community Services.

Category 3 - Best Workplace Health and Safety Practices in Small Business

The award for winner in Category 3 – Best workplace health and safety practices in small business was awarded to Platinum Freight Management Pty Ltd.

Winner - Platinum Freight Management Pty Ltd

Platinum Freight Management Pty Ltd is a small customs brokerage business that custom clears cargo through the Australian Customs Service and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.

In 2004, SAI Global certified the workplace health and safety practices of the organisation to AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational Health and Management Systems. The health and safety practices and procedures include OHS objectives and targets, a risk assessment process that incorporates a risk assessment calculator, OHS management plan, consultation, communication and reporting, OHS systems planning and responsibilities, hazard identification, health surveillance, incident investigation and emergency preparedness.

The organisation has implemented this system to reflect an industry presence within customs brokerage and to maintain a safe and healthy workplace for staff, visitors and contractors.

Category 4 - Public Sector Leadership Award for Injury Prevention and Management

The award for winner of Category 4 was awarded to RailCorp – Service Delivery Group Inner West/Bankstown in recognition of the work of their Health and Safety Committee.

Winner - RailCorp - Service Delivery Group Inner West/Bankstown

Each member of the RailCorp Inner West/Bankstown Health and Safety Environment Committee has played an integral leadership role in changing cultural behaviours and attitudes in their area of responsibility.

The Committee has developed strong relationships with front line staff and forged a continuous improvement reputation that has resulted in significant OHS improvements. Since 2004 the Committee has:

1. Provided peer support to injured workers.
2. Conducted all level 4/5 inspections for all injuries and incidents.
3. Introduced a rolling plan of inspections for 31 stations within the region - with each station being inspected at least twice a year.
4. Identified hazards and undertaken detailed risk assessments with follow up until closure.
5. Developed and issued a regular monthly news bulletin.
6. Visited stations to communicate and mentor front line staff.
7. Developed new manual handling and station presentation manuals.

Category 5 - Best Individual Contribution to Workplace Health and Safety

Entires in this category were of an extremely high standard and two joint winners were announced in this category. They were Robert Petrovski from TNT Australia – t/a TNT Express and Ron Christianson of the Transport Workers Union.

Winner - Robert Petrovski - TNT Australia – t/a TNT Express

Robert Petrovski is a delivery van driver at the Mascot depot. He is recognised by his colleagues as a dedicated individual who has consistently championed workplace health and safety within his depot and was nominated by the depot’s managers for a Safe Work Award.

Robert 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.

In his time with TNT, Robert has proactively enforced the application of heavy item warning stickers on freight weighing over 20kg, established a flood contingency plan for the Mascot site, established the Mascot depot traffic management team, issued drivers with sunblock to protect against UV rays, introduced regular safety meetings with neighbouring organisations, initiated monthly safety newsletters and conducted regular safety checks and risk assessments at TNT’s Chullora depot.

Winner - Ron Christianson - Transport Workers Union

Ron Christianson has been a member of the Transport Workers Union since 1985 and delegate at Toll Ipec, Moorebank for the past 10 years.

In his role as delegate, Ron has responsibility for representing a site of over 300 workers, from administration staff to drivers and dockworkers. Ron has championed driver safety throughout this time and has been a pioneer of the NSW ‘Chain of Responsibility’ (COR) principles.

Through his work with the COR, Ron implemented the development of safe driving plans for all drivers working with Toll Ipec, whether they are permanent, casual or labour hire workers. As a result of Ron’s work, all drivers are appropriately inducted and a system of monitoring driving hours has been introduced.