Safe Work Australia Awards

Defence a winner at the Safe Work Australia Awards 2012

Winners of the 7th annual Safe Work Australia Awards were announced at a ceremony held at the Great Hall, Parliament House on 26 April 2012.

The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission  (SRCC- now Comcare) submitted four Defence entries into the Safe Work Australia Awards, Australia's peak work health and safety awards program. Leading Seaman Natalie Irvine won Category 4a Best individual contribution to workplace health and safety - by an employee.

Finalists from across Australia competed for this year's awards, covering a broad range of industries. Finalists of each of the four national award categories have been recognised as winners in the state, territory, Seacare or Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission Awards held last September.

SRCC entered the following Defence finalists into the Safe Work Australia Awards :

• Navy - Leading Seaman Natalie Irvine took a pro-active and relentless approach to aircraft safety, allowing her to identify and resolve the issue surrounding the irregularities between two policy documents.
• Navy - LCDR Andrew Rohrsheim employed at the Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit (AMAFTU) demonstrated outstanding commitment and initiative by completely revamping the unit’s outdated Safety Management Standing Instructions and developed a compliance matrix against all higher level regulations.
• Army - 16th Battalion Royal Western Australia Regiment (16RWAR) implemented a WHSMS Improvement Strategy that provides 16RWAR with an innovative and constantly evolving WHSMS. The Strategy has been implemented in other units.
• DMO - Army Aviation Systems Program Organisation (AASPO) was tasked with developing a safer and more efficient Chinook. New flooring and seating was developed and has had global implications.

LS Natalie Irvine while engaged in a challenging series of warfare assessments, Able Seaman Irvine (Now ranked LS Irvine) identified and corrected a number of contrasting directives and orders in aviation safety publications. These documents, namely the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Class Radiation Hazard Standard Operating Procedures and Australian Book of Reference 5419 Helicopter Operations Manual, governed the safe operation of aircraft ensuring that helicopters are not exposed to potentially harmful Radiation Hazard emissions with potentially catastrophic results.

What are the Awards?

The National Safe Work Australia Awards are the premier national WHS awards that promote continuous improvement in WHS by recognising excellence at the government, organisational and individual level.

Finalists for the Awards are winners in the 2011 Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission Awards in their state or territory.

The ceremony to recognise award winners was held on 26 April 2012.

Finalists for the 2012 Awards

Category 1 - Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System

This award recognises demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement of workplace health and safety through the implementation of an integrated systems approach.

Two Awards will be given under the following sub-categories:

1. Private Sector
1. Winner - Grocon Constructors – VIC
2. Highly Commended - Decmil Australia - WA
3. All Finalists
• ACT - Schiavello Group Pty Ltd
• NSW - Inghams Enterprises
• TAS - Bonney Group
• VIC - Grocon Constructors
• WA - Decmil Australia
2. Public Sector
   1. Winner - QLD - ENERGEX
   2. Highly Commended - WA - Public Transport Authority
   3. All Finalists
      • QLD - ENERGEX
      • SA - The University of Adelaide
      • TAS - Central Coast Council
      • WA - Public Transport Authority
      • Department of Defence – 16th Battalion

Category 2 - Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue

This award recognises excellence in developing and implementing a solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue. Entries for this award may include a product solution, design/engineering innovation, training program, awareness raising activity or other risk control measure that reduces the risk of work-related injury and disease.

1. Winner - QLD - The Australian Reinforcing Company
2. Highly Commended - WA - Wellington Dam Alliance, comprising Leighton Contractors, Water Corporation of WA, Structual Systems, Entura (Hydro Tasmania) and Aecom
3. All Finalists
   • Department of Defence, Army Aviation Systems Program Office
   • NSW - State Transit Authority
   • QLD - The Australian Reinforcing Company
   • SA - Adelaide Shores
   • TAS - Sibelco Australia Ltd
   • VIC - CJM Attachments Pty Ltd and Swan Hill Rural Council
   • WA - Wellington Dam Alliance, comprising Leighton Contractors, Water Corporation of WA, Structual Systems, Entura (Hydro Tasmania) and Aecom

Category 3 - Best Workplace Health and Safety Practice/s in a Small Business

This award recognises high standard workplace health and safety practices in small business. This category is limited to small businesses that have fewer than 20 employees or full-time equivalents.

1. Winner - SA - The Hub Fruit Bowl
2. Highly Commended - TAS - Briar Maritime Services Pty Ltd
3. All Finalists
   • ACT - Tech Innovations Australia
   • NSW - Production Automotive
   • QLD - River Logic
   • SA - The Hub Fruit Bowl
   • TAS - Briar Maritime Services Pty Ltd
   • VIC - Independent Ezy Access
   • WA - Leicon Notley

Category 4 - Best Individual Contribution to Workplace Health and Safety

This Award recognises individuals who have made an exceptional difference to health and safety.

Two Awards will be given under the following sub-categories:

1. An employee, such as a health and safety representative.
   1. Winner - SRCC - Leading Seaman Natalie Irvine, Royal Australian Navy
   2. All Finalists
      • ACT - Robert Meizer, ACTION
      • NSW - Peer Lehwess, Presbyterian Aged Care
      • Leading Seaman Natalie Irvine, Royal Australian Navy
      • QLD - Rod McFarlane, Queensland Health’s Group Linen Service
      • SA - Dusty Hurst, Clipsal by Schneider Electric
      • TAS - Leigh Jordan, MMG Rosebery
      • VIC - Marg Howard, Nestle Uncle Tobys
      • WA - John McDonnell, Hollywood Private Hospital
2. An outstanding contribution by an OHS manager or a person with responsibility for OHS as part of their duties
   1. Winner - NSW - Peter Rogers, Jeff Hort Engineering
   2. All Finalists
      • ACT - Robert Farrrell, Schiavello ACT
      • Lieutenant Commander Andrew Rohrsheim
      • NSW - Peter Rogers, Jeff Hort Engineering
      • SA - Paresh Chawda, VISY
      • TAS - Caroline Langley, Injury Prevention & Management

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