National Safe Work Australia Awards

Thirty-seven finalists from a broad range of industries and organisations competed in five categories in the 2008 National Safe Work Australia Awards, ranging from the best workplace health and safety management system to the best individual contribution to workplace health and safety.

Group Manager of Safe Work Australia, Rex Hoy, said the five awards recipients demonstrated an impressive commitment to workplace health and safety: “The Safe Work Australia Awards are an opportunity to showcase the organisations and industries in Australia that are making workplace safety a key priority in their every day operations.

“The 2008 awards winners and finalists have developed innovative solutions to combat the dangers of workplace injury and should be commended on their efforts.”

Finalists in each of the five awards categories were winners of OHS awards in their state or territory. An independent judging panel considered each finalist’s award submission before deciding on the final winners.

Hoy said the awards focus attention on one of the most important aspects of employment for everyone — safety in the workplace: “More than 135,000 Australians are seriously injured at work every year and more than 260 die as a result of work-related injuries. Many more die as a result of work-related disease. The tragedy is work-related injury, illness and death can be prevented through the adoption of safer work practices.”

The 2008 winners were:

• Category 1 – Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System: ETSA Utilities, South Australia
• Category 2 — Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue: The Dorsal Boutique Hotel, New South Wales
• Category 3 — Best Workplace Health and Safety Practices in Small Business: WP Projects, New South Wales
• Category 4 — Public Sector Leadership Award for Injury Prevention and Management: Eraring Energy, New South Wales
• Category 5 — Best Individual Contribution to Workplace Health and Safety: Viki Coad, South Australia