Big tick for sub training

CMDR Stu Wheeler is presented with a SRCC award by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Kevin Andrews.

The Training Authority-Submarines (TASM) at HMAS Stirling has won another prestigious safety award.

As a result of winning a Defence Safety Awards in 2004 for ongoing good OHS work, TA-SM was entered in the Comcare Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (SRCC) awards.

This resulted in a win in the category of Leadership for Injury Prevention and Management. Nominations were invited from all agencies in the Commonwealth occupational health and safety and/or workers’ compensation jurisdiction.

TA-SM is a Navy Systems Command organisation responsible for the training of all submariners that crew the Collins Class submarines.

The training is delivered by a mixture of civilian specialists and Navy service persons, and handles an annual workload of approximately 300 students on a variety of training, ranging from initial induction courses to technical and combat team training.

TA-SM received the prestigious SRCC award for their systematic approach to injury prevention and management in the training of submariners.

On presentation of the award by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Kevin Andrews, TA-SM’s CMDR Stu Wheeler, paid tribute to his TA-SM predecessor.

“The surfeit of awards we’ve received this year reinforces our commitment to workplace safety and confirms our dedication to effective submarine training, it’s a credit to everyone involved,” CMDR Wheeler said.

“The potential for catastrophic consequences through accident is always present, submarine safety is not just a core value in our training; it’s become an embedded culture that permeates every corner of our workplace.”

In a Bravo Zulu signal later, the Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie, described TASM’s win as “a remarkable and outstanding achievement”.

In 1999, under the leadership of submarine engineer and then Director of Submarine Training, CMDR Bronko Ogrizek, the submarine school continued their pursuit of quality and excellence, with particular focus on improving their management of workplace OHS.

As a result of National Safety Council of Australia (NSCA) audits, the submarine school was given an Outstanding Performance Award for 2003 and achievement of its highly valued Five-Star Grading for Workplace Safety - one of only three organisations in Western Australia to hold this level of quality assurance and safety accreditation.

Entries for the 2005 Defence Safety Awards will be called for in September 2004. F

or more information contact Mike Barrett on (02) 6266 8517.

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