Qld Safe Work and Return to Work Award finalists

Queensland’s work health and safety, rehabilitation and return to work champions will be celebrated in October at the Safe Work and Return to Work Awards. The finalists, announced on 19 September, were selected from more than 120 entries across 11 categories, according to Queensland Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace, including the new ‘Best demonstrated healthy and safe work design’ category.

“That means either Buildsafe Queensland or RoadTek will create their own piece of awards history by taking home the gong in this category for the very first time,” Grace said. Grace also praised people’s inspirational courage, grit and determination to get back to meaningful work after serious injury.

“All four finalists in the injured worker achievement category are amazing, climbing up off the canvas and working hard to make remarkable recoveries to get back on the job,” Grace said. “These incredible Queenslanders have put serious medical issues such as amputations, spinal damage, major crush injuries and bone bruising behind them and bounced back.”

In addition, Grace noted some of the solutions devised to combat identified work health and safety issues. “For example, the Pole Grab safety ladder system is simple but brilliant, safely securing tradies and their tools when working at height,” she said.

Finalists include:

Best solution to an identified work health and safety issue

• Envirochasing Sales T/A Guarda Systems — Como, WA
• Incitec Pivot Fertilisers — Murarrie
• Pole Grab Pty Ltd — Clontarf
• Verton Technologies Australia Pty Ltd — Milton
   

Best individual contribution to work health and safety

• Ashley Rieck, Greensill Farming — Bundaberg
• Craig Hatchard, RoadTek — Brisbane
• Glen James, Foodbank — Morningside
   

Best solution to an identified electrical safety issue

• Energy Queensland — Hervey Bay
   

Most significant improvement to work health and safety performance

• Eagle Alliance Earthmoving Pty Ltd — Murarrie
• Mendi Constructions — Townsville
• Swickers — Kingaroy
   

Best commitment to work health and wellbeing

• Cancer Council Queensland — Fortitude Valley
• CQ University — Rockhampton
• G&S Engineering — Mackay
   

Best demonstrated leadership in work health and safety

• CQ University — Rockhampton
• Eagle Alliance Earthmoving Pty Ltd — Murarrie
• Glen Cook, Energy Queensland — Hervey Bay
• Mendi Constructions — Townsville
   

Injured worker achievement award

• Amanda Ludgater, Skyline Landscape Services — Nerang
• Jessica McDowell, Churches of Christ — Maryborough
• Jordan Williams, Melco Engineering — Mackay
• Tajhon Mailata, OI Brisbane — West End
   

Best rehabilitation and return to work management system

• Griffith University — Nathan
• Skyline Landscape Services — Nerang
   

Best individual contribution to rehabilitation and return to work

• Hilary Mauro, Endeavour Foundation — Cairns
• Jacci Watson, Skyline Landscape Services — Nerang
• Susan Bryer, WorkCover Queensland — Brisbane
• Tracy Bignell, Townsville City Council — Townsville
   

Best demonstrated leadership in return to work

• Griffith University — Nathan
• Skyline Landscape Services — Nerang
   

Best demonstrated healthy and safe work design

• Buildsafe Queensland — Gold Coast
• Craig Hatchard, RoadTek — Brisbane
   

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