Nominations now open for 2018 Safe Work and Return to Work Awards

Queenslanders leading the way in work health and safety or rehabilitation and return to work are being urged to enter the 2018 Safe Work and Return to Work Awards.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace officially launched the 2018 Awards while visiting North Queensland today.

“Our Government is committed to promoting safe work practices and that’s what these awards are all about,” Ms Grace said.

“We’re calling for nominations from those who are helping to keep people safe at work, or getting injured workers back to meaningful work as soon as they can.

“I urge you to nominate yourself or anyone you know who’s doing a fantastic job helping their colleagues with rehab after an injury, or preventing workplace injuries in the first place.

“This is about recognising and sharing success stories of organisations and individuals who are doing great things for Queensland when it comes to work health and safety, rehabilitation and return to work.

Ms Grace said the Safe Work and Return to Work Awards recognise outstanding achievements and ingenuity in this field.

“These awards are a platform to share ideas and solutions with others so that all working Queenslanders can go home safely to their families at the end of each day,” she said.

“Last year’s winners included an alert system which prevents a truck being overloaded, a smart solution to prevent falls through stair voids on construction sites, systems for staying safe around overhead powerlines, and an individual’s tireless efforts to get injured workers back on the job in the state’s far north, despite geographical barriers.

The 2018 winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony in Brisbane on Tuesday 2 October. Winners will be awarded up to $2000 in prize money.

The Safe Work and Return to Work Awards are broken into 10 categories:

- Category one – Best solution to an identified health and safety issue

- Category two – Best individual contribution to work health and safety

- Category three – Best solution to an identified electrical safety issue

- Category four – Most significant improvement to work health and safety performance

- Category five – Best workplace health and wellbeing initiative

- Category six – Best demonstrated leadership in work health and safety (entrants for this category are chosen from categories one to five)

- Category seven – Injured worker achievement award

- Category eight – Best rehabilitation and return to work system

- Category nine – Best individual contribution to rehabilitation and return to work

- Category ten – Best demonstrated leadership in return to work (entrants for this category are chosen from categories seven to nine).

Visit worksafe.qld.gov.au to enter or nominate someone else, and view example entries and films of previous winning initiatives. Entries close Monday 29 June.

Media contact: Emma Clarey – 0439 578 472