SafeWork NSW has scrapped its annual awards for organisations that showed distinction in work health and safety in favour of an excellence showcase.
Announcing the change, SafeWork said that this year, NSW organisations that demonstrated outstanding work health and safety management would be recognised in its inaugural Work Health and Safety (WHS) Excellence Showcase.
“The [NSW SafeWork] Awards started in 2004 as a way of acknowledging NSW businesses that were encouraging high standards of work health and safety,” SafeWork said.
“The Showcase will continue to promote high standards of work health and safety in workplaces around NSW.”
It said organisations could be nominated across two categories, for an outstanding solution to a work health and safety risk, or an outstanding solution for members managing work health and safety risk/s.
Government organisations will be able to nominate for Category 1 in the Large business (Government) sub-category of the new Showcase.
Welcoming the Showcase, Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading, Eleni Petinos said it would acknowledge NSW businesses and industry associations that had come up with innovative solutions to support the safety of their employees.
“Nominations are now open and we want to celebrate NSW businesses which have demonstrated outstanding work health and safety management,” Ms Petinos said.
“We are calling for nominations from all businesses across the State who have demonstrated real solutions to protect their workers,” she said.
“This is an exceptional opportunity for small businesses to be recognised for their dedication to employee safety, providing a fantastic framework for other small businesses to follow suit on our road to a safer and stronger NSW.”
Ms Petinos said the annual SafeWork NSW Awards was held for 17 years and celebrated the achievements of more than 100 businesses and individuals.
She said nominations for the 2022 WHS Excellence Showcase would be open until 14 October, with winners expected to be announced in early December.
Last year, the NSW State Emergency Service took home the top award in the Industry associations and unions category of the SafeWork NSW Awards.
Further information on the new Excellence Showcase can be accessed at this PS News link.
