Queensland Safe Work Awards winners announced

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie has congratulated this year’s Safe Work Week award winners announced in Brisbane this afternoon.

Mr Bleijie said the winners were selected from a strong field of finalists that included innovations in mining, transport, building and construction, engineering and health.

“We received close to 100 entries this year and the high-standard made the judges’ task in selecting just six winners a difficult one,” Mr Bleijie said.

“It is great to see organisations thinking outside the square and taking a fresh and often ingenious approach to workplace health and safety.”

Mr Bleijie said the awards ceremony was one of the highlights of Safe Work Week which runs until Sunday 27 October.

“I encourage all businesses to take inspiration from our award winners and look at how they can make their own workplaces safer,” he said.

“Origin legend Mal Meninga hosted workshops and forums across Queensland in the lead up to Safe Work Week and I would like to thank him for his dedication to the cause.”

The 2012 winners are:

· Category 1 - Best workplace health and safety management system Origin Alliance, Redbank.

· Category 2 - Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue SaferGate Group Pty. Ltd., Brisbane.

· Category 3 - Best workplace health and safety practices in a small business Zemek Engineering Pty. Ltd., Mackay.

· Category 4 - Best individual contribution to workplace health and safety Paul Gear, Gold Coast Water.

· Category 5 - Best solution to an identified electrical safety issue QR National, Central Queensland Coal Network.

· Category 6 – Zero Harm at Work Leadership Program award Queensland Rail, Brisbane.

The finalists will represent Queensland at the national Safe Work Australia Awards next year. For more visit the www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.

Media contact: Matt Johnston 0432 535 893