WorkSafe Awards winners announced

A knifeless conveyor belt splicing technique has been named the Best Solution to a Specific Work Health and Safety Issue at this year’s WorkSafe Awards.

The technique — which involved identifying 10 actions that required a knife and implementing alternative methods for each task — comes after Belle Banne Conveyor Services employees realised that 80% of their workplace injuries were lacerations obtained while using knives to cut conveyor belts or repair damaged sections of rubber. The company has not had a knife injury since, according to WorkSafe Victoria.

Reece Group’s Ute Side Lifter took out Best Solution to a Manual Handling Issue. WorkSafe Victoria said the plumbing company’s custom-built hoist lifts hot water systems up to 180 kg, removing the need for manual handling and reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Diesel mechanic Alex McCrae earned the Worker Return to Work Achievement Award for his effort to get back on the job.

McCrae was forced to leave his position after years of bullying and harassment left him with psychological injuries, WorkSafe Victoria said. Determined to return to work as soon as possible, he undertook numerous interviews and training and, despite being knocked back after interviews, he persisted and eventually secured work at H.I.M Spares.

Other winners include Sigmatec — which won Health and Safety Invention of the Year for its Poster Rise device that allows retail workers to install posters at height via remote control — and disability service provider Scope, for its Commitment to Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing.

Winners were selected from 27 finalists and 219 nominees across the nine categories.

WorkSafe Chief Executive Clare Amies said the winners had shown dedication to reducing the impacts that workplace injuries had on Victorians.

“Whether it is their sheer determination to return to work or absolute commitment to preventing injuries, the 2019 WorkSafe Awards winners have gone to incredible lengths to make their workplaces healthier and safer,” Amies said.

“They are a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work and resolve to overcome the challenges to health and safety across a wide range of Victorian industries.

“I would like to congratulate every finalist, who can be proud of the difference they have made to the lives of Victorian workers.”

The full list of winners can be found below:

• Baw Baw Shire Council — Leading Return to Work Practice by an Employer
• Winnie Tjong, Northern Health — Return to Work Coordinator Excellence
• Alex McCrae, H.I.M Spares — Worker Return to Work Achievement
• Reece Group — Best Solution to Manual Handling Issue
• Sigmatec — Health and Safety Invention of the Year
• Sally Collier-Clarke and Sara Jorgensen — Health and Safety Representative of the Year
• Mark Keating, St John of God Health Care — OHS Leadership, Achievement Award
• Scope — Commitment to Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing
   

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/tomertu