Safe work initiatives in Queensland recognised

Close to 40 Queensland businesses and staff have been recognised for making a real difference to their workplace by being named as finalists for this year’s Safe Work and Return to Work Awards. 

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the nominees have shown fantastic commitment to keeping workers safe or getting them back to work after an injury or illness. 

“Too many families are devastated when a loved one doesn’t come home from work or is seriously injured on the job,” Ms Grace said. 

“But these people and businesses are getting safety right, doing their bit to avoid fatalities and serious injuries.” 

The Safe Work and Return to Work Awards showcase excellence in safety or getting workers back to meaningful duties as soon as possible. In just one example, poultry producer Darwalla has achieved a 23 per cent reduction in workers’ compensation premiums over two years, 100 per cent staff attendance at tool box talks and training sessions, and fostered a positive attitude towards work health and safety. The Mt Cotton-based business is a finalist in the category for Best Work Health and Safety Management System. 

“Innovators are also acknowledged. Condamine company Teys Australia has developed the ‘loadout ramp’ and ‘arrivals ramp’ to minimise the risk of nasty falls when drivers load and unload cattle onto different sized trucks and trailers,” Ms Grace said. 

“As such, Teys has been nominated in the Best Solution to an Identified Work Health and Safety Issue Category.” 

“Iconic brands like RACQ (Most Significant Improvement to Work Health and Safety Performance) and Endeavour (Best Rehabilitation and Return to Work Management System) are among the finalists too. 

“It’s even more encouraging to see that much of the state is represented - with finalists from areas such as the Gold Coast, Condamine, Townsville, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Mackay, Rockhampton and Thursday Island.” 

In 2016, there are more than 40 finalists in 13 categories. 

“These companies are investing in the well-being of their employees, settling for nothing less than maximum safety. And if an injury does occur, they have good processes in place to get that worker back on deck as soon as safely possible,” Ms Grace said. 

The Safe Work and Return to Work Awards are a highlight of Safe Work Month which runs during October. The award winners will be announced at a breakfast ceremony in Brisbane on 18 October. 

Media contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548 

Safe Work and Return to Work Awards 2016 Finalists 

Category 1 Best work health and safety management system

Biniris (Australia), Fortitude Valley

Buildsafe Queensland, Gold Coast

Darwalla Group, Mt Cotton 

Category 2 Best solution to an identified work health and safety issue

Brisbane Motorway Services, Brisbane

Boyne Smelters, Gladstone

Department of Transport and Main Roads–RoadTek Branch, Brisbane

Komatsu Australia, Wacol

Teys Australia Condamine, Condamine 

Category 3 Best work health and safety practices in small business

HR Business Direction, Morningside

Metro Facades, Gold Coast 

Category 4 Best individual contribution to work health and safety

Stuart Baker, Toll North Chemical Services, Lytton

Andrew Bowe, Ergon Energy, Townsville

Brian Short, OceanicSteel, Bundaberg

Sharon Vandermatt, City of Gold Coast Council, Gold Coast 

Category 5 Best solution to an identified electrical issue

ABB Australia, Eagle Farm

NOJA Power, Murarrie

Powertech, Eagle Farm

Seqwater, Ipswich 

Category 6 Most significant improvement to work health and safety performance

Brisbane Markets Limited, Rocklea

RACQ, Eight Miles Plains

Ventia Pty Ltd–AirportLinkM7 Project, Brisbane 

Category 7 Best workplace health and wellbeing initiative

Brisbane Motorway Services, Bowen Hills

Easternwell, Toowoomba

Murphy Pipe and Civil, Albion

NOJA Power, Murarrie

The Construction Training Centre, Salisbury 

Category 8 Best demonstrated leadership in work health and safety

Ostwald Bros, West End

Darwalla Group, Mt Cotton

Sharon Vandermatt, City of Gold Coast Council, Gold Coast 

Category 9 Injured work achievement awards

Alexis Bajada, Boomerang Hotel, Mackay

Deniel Beasy, Queensland Police Service, Rockhampton

Andrew Coulter, J.J. Richards Engineering, Yatala

Drewsilla Joy Cumner, RSL Care Fernhill, Brisbane

Kafi Jama, JBS Australia, Townsville

Michael Motton, PresCare, Brisbane 

Category 10 Best rehabilitation and return to work practices in small/medium business

No nominations of sufficient merit 

Category 11 Best rehabilitation and return to work management system

Endeavour Foundation, Toowoomba

McNab, West End

Volvo Group Australia, Wacol 

Category 12 Best individual contribution to rehabilitation and return to work

Jeremy Clay, McNab, West End

Marcelle Harrison, Kmart Australia, Wakerley

Kaye Morgan, Volvo Truck Production, South Brisbane

Karen Wright, Tagai State College, Thursday Island 

Category 13 Demonstrated leadership in rehabilitation and return to work

Jeremy Clay, McNab, West End