Queensland WorkSafe and Return to Work awards

The Queensland Industrial Relations Minister, Cameron Dick, announced the winners of the 2009 Queensland WorkSafe Awards and inaugural Return to Work Awards, stating: “The awards attracted nearly 600 entries, with winners coming from a diverse range of industries and workplaces in both private and public sectors.

“The Return to Work Awards - run by Q-COMP, the statutory authority overseeing workers’ compensation in Queensland - showcased the state’s top employers who understand the importance of helping injured workers make a successful return to work.”

WorkSafe Award winners:

• Best workplace health and safety management system:
  • Winner - S&N Civil Constructions, Townsville, for expansion of its quality management system to an integrated, certified management system.
• Best solution to an identified health and safety issue:
  • Winner - Frook, Townsville, for a safer and more cost-effective temporary bracing method to install building trusses.
  • Highly commended - Bovis Lend Lease for prevention of falls from heights for workers while erecting crane and gantries on Brisbane Supreme and District Courts project.
  • Highly commended - University of Queensland Library for inventing a device that prevents wheels of book lifts, used to transport library materials, from falling into gap between lift and floor.
• Best workplace health and safety practice in small business:
  • Highly commended - Matt Electric, Burleigh Heads, for ‘SafetyConnect’ safety plan to improve OHS practices.
• Best individual contribution to workplace health and safety:
  • Winner - John Harris of Phoenix Drilling Services for inventing a safer compressor radiator top-up system.
  • Highly commended - Paul Gibson of ARA Group for developing a ‘court room scenario’ to determine effectiveness of safety management systems.
  • Highly commended - Reg O’Brien of Boyne Smelters for OHS improvements in the carbon section at Boyne Smelters.
• Best solution to identified electrical safety issues:
  • Winner - Stanwell Corporation for safe method of managing arc-flash hazards through registers and electrical panel-door labelling.

Return to Work Award winners:

• Small employer (<200 employees): Visy PET - Return-to-work efforts at plastic bottle manufacturing plant.
• Medium employer (200–2000 employees): Cement Australia - Commitment to caring for all of its Queensland employees through innovative return-to-work practices and ensuring injured workers’ needs were prioritised, while supporting families.
• Large employer (>2000 employees): Department of Public Works - Innovative rehabilitation and return-to-work programs to support injured workers.
• Self-insured employer: University of Queensland - Rehabilitation initiatives resulting in positive outcomes for injured workers.
• Injured worker - return-to-work same employer: Tony Seng - Confronted challenges of injury to successfully make the most of situation, inspiring work colleagues, friends and family.
• Injured worker  - return-to-work new employer: Lesley Crawley - Remarkable turnaround after serious work injury, driven by determination and a positive attitude.
• Rehabilitation and return-to-work co-ordinator: Penny Wright (Alphapharm) - Dedication to looking after injured workers and their families during rehabilitation.
• Rehabilitation and return-to-work co-ordinator - self-insured employer: Ursula Lone (Scenic Rim Regional Council) - Friendly and caring persona makes injured workers feel supported through rehabilitation, with a successful return to work as her number-one priority.