The winners of Comcare’s 2018 Work Health and Safety Awards have been announced with the public sector prominent among the achievers and finalists.
Presented at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of Comcare’s National Conference, the Awards recognise achievements among the Agency’s clients in delivering safer and healthier workplaces to the 400,000 workers it covers in 200 employers.
Chief Executive of Comcare, Jennifer Taylor said the Awards celebrated leadership and innovation across the diverse national safety, rehabilitation and compensation scheme.
“The initiatives show how much opportunity there is to deliver significant, positive change in workplace safety and rehabilitation,” Ms Taylor said.
“It’s important to reward these achievements and inspire others to reduce hazards and injury in the workplace.”
She said an innovative solution to safety risks at a port and an early intervention program that dramatically reduced injuries for airline staff were among the winners in the four categories for the 2018 Awards.
Finalists in the first category for the ‘Prevention Award’ included the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) for its Electrical Arc Flash Safety Program for its reactor facility; Australia Post for its Safety Teams Ideas Forum; and the Department of Defence for its Australian Navy Cadets.
The Award was won by building company John Holland Pty Ltd for a Mobile Swing Stage Gantry at the its Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal with a high commendation bestowed on the rail company Pacific National for its Driver Drowsiness Detection.
ANSTO received a Commendation for the Electrical Arc Flash Program.
The second category, ‘Early Intervention Award’ was a tussle between the Australian Taxation Office for its Working Well program and Virgin Australia Airlines for its Remote and onsite healthcare initiatives. The award went to Virgin Australia
The third award for ‘Recovery At and Return to Work’ was presented to the John Holland Group for its Intensive Rehabilitation program for long term incapacity, with the Department of Human Services recognised as a finalist for its Access and Inclusion Unit.
The final award for ‘Individual Contribution’ was presented to Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer Cameron Symons with John Holland’s Wes Johnson receiving a high commendation.
Ms Taylor said Petty Officer Symons was recognised for designing a management system for heat stress in firefighting training
The full list of awards and finalists can be accessed on the Comcare website at this PS News link.
