Victorian WorkSafe Awards finalists announced

The WorkSafe Awards, now in their 21st year, recognise individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to improving health and safety in their workplace.

WorkSafe’s Executive Director of Health and Safety, John Merritt said the finalists had used their ideas, innovations and initiative to make Victorian workers safer: “Every entrant is to be congratulated and proud of the fact that they are working to protect their workmates, businesses and the wider community from the enormous effects of preventable workplace incidents.

“The WorkSafe Awards acknowledge the great work many people are doing. What is really terrific is that the ideas put into effect in one area can often be applied elsewhere. That’s the strength of these awards. There isn’t a single universal approach that gets results. Making safer workplaces is about looking at issues and options, discussing them, finding solutions, putting them into effect and then reviewing them over time.”

The finalists are:

Health and Safety Representative of the Year:

• Julian Makara, Lesaffre Australia Pacific;
• Karen Linstrom, RMIT University;
• Phyl Hilton, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia;
• Rohan Holdsworth, Blue Circle Southern Cement.

Health and Safety Committee of the Year:

• Darebin City Council - Corporate Safety Committee
• RMIT University - The Fashion and Textiles Health and Safety Committee;
• RMIT University - School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Occupational Health and Safety Committee;
• Sutton Tools - Sutton Tools Health and Safety Committee;
• The Victorian Arts Centre - Health Safety and Security Committee.

Best Design for Workplace Safety:

• Racing Victoria and Delta-V Experts - Running Rails;
• GTS Freight - Load Restraint Trailer.

Best Strategy for Health and Safety Management:

• Youth Justice Custodial (YJC) Services - DHS - Clinical Group Supervision for YJC workers;
• Berry Street - Risk Reduction: To address the issues of client-initiated violence in residential care.

Best Solution to preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries:

• Microw Development - The Reo Jack;
• SmartCage - SmartCage Automated Airfreight Trucking;
• WorkRight Safety Solutions - Keg Lifter.

Best Solution to a Health and Safety Risk:

• Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE - Lathe Chuck Guard;
• Delta V Experts - Swan Rollover Protective Structure;
• Dynamic Brace Solutions - Lite-Weight Tilt Panel Brace.