Volume 49, No. 7, May 04, 2006

Nominations are being called for the 2006 Navy Safety Awards.

The Navy Safety Award scheme was introduced in 2004, under the Safety Management System - Navy (SMS-N), as a means of recognising and rewarding personnel and organisations that make a conspicuous and positive contribution to Navy safety.
The scheme comprises two awards:

The Chief of Navy Award for Safety Excellence.
All Navy units/ships/establishments are eligible to nominate for this award and winners will receive a trophy and framed certificate.

The award recognises those that have integrated the guiding principles of the Navy Safety Culture Blueprint into their mainstream operations.

There are three categories:

(1) Best implementation of workplace safety management - recognising the impact of an effective and sustainable OHS management system.

(2) Best solution of an OHS specific workplace risk - recognising an innovative solution to a safety challenge or an invention that significantly reduces workplace risk.

(3) Best positive culture of safety training program - recognising a unique training program that makes a positive and conspicuous difference to the safety of the workforce and its workplace.

The Commander Dave Allen Award for Safety Excellence.

This is an individual award and all personnel working for, and in support of Navy, including defence civilian employees, are eligible to nominate. The winner will receive a trophy, a framed certificate and $1000.

The award recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to any aspect of safety in Navy.
Any nomination for this award must reflect a level of performance and/or vigilance significantly in excess of that which could reasonably be expected of the rank or experience level of the nominee.

Assessment criteria for each award and details regarding nomination format are laid down in DEFGRAM 167/2006. A copy of DEFGRAM 167/2006, together with posters advertising the award ceremony, has been sent to all ship/shore addresses.

Last year’s inaugural awards were a successful event and attracted wide coverage and interest.
It is requested that this year’s call for nominations be given the widest possible distribution and personnel be given every encouragement to participate.

The nomination process has been made as straightforward as possible and it is emphasised that submissions need not be forwarded through the command chain if this is likely to incur delays and discourage junior ranks to participate.

This year, nominations will close on September 30, prior to judging in October and the award ceremony is planned to take place in November.

The date and venue will be advised separately.

Further information can be obtained from the SMS-N intranet website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/navyweb/sites/sms(underscore)n/ or contact the Directorate of Navy Safety Systems (DNAVSAFE) on 1800 558 555 or email navy.safety(at)defence.gov.au.

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