Safety first at awards
ADF recognition for contributions to health and safety

Volume 48, No. 8, May 18, 2006

AIR Force took one major award and received three commendations when the 2006 Defence Safety Awards were presented in Canberra on Monday, May 8.

The commendations included a Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue commendation for Air Lift Group’s implementation of the Working at Heights Policy.

The major award for Best Individual Contribution to Health and Safety was accepted by former Air Force serviceman-turned-civilian, Mr Rodney O’Connor, of the F-111 Engines Business Unit, Defence Materiel Organisation.

There were 13 submissions for this category with two other submissions commended by the judging panel.

Market testing was conducted in 1999 for the provision of deeper maintenance and logistics support of the F-111’s Pratt and Whitney TF30 engines, with the EBU the successful tenderer. It has a working directive term to 2012.

The F-111 EBU’s operation is unique worldwide and exclusively supports the Air Force fleet of F-111 aircraft.

Mr O’Connor’s core responsibility as the EBU Health, Safety and Environment Manager is the implementation and maintenance of the safety and environmental management systems.

Mr O’Connor has contributed to EBU now having in-place strategies for the health baseline testing and ongoing monitoring of employees to meet Defence Safety Manual requirements, achieved largely as a result of Mr O’Connor’s professionalism and leadership.

The panel said: “Mr O’Connor has solved complex OHS issues which have been achieved largely as a result of the professionalism, innovation and leadership shown by him.”

In accepting his award, Mr O’Connor said the EBU had a dedicated staff of about 150 Defence civilians who provided engine maintenance support for the F-111.

The majority were former servicemen and women, working in the same buildings as they did during their military careers, enabling the business to be the centre of expertise in aircraft engine maintenance.

“We would not be considered as your standard issue Public Servants who work in office environments, but ones employed within an industrial-style workplace,” he said.

“To provide a safe place of work is something that would not be possible without the support of senior management, a dedicated safety committee, the employees and the assistance provided by outside agencies such as the DMO Materiel People and Performance branch and, more recently, the Centre of Occupational Health.

SQNLDR Darryl Stokes received a commendation for Best Individual Contribution to Health and Safety for the implementation of the Working at Heights policy.

“Working at heights for Air Force platforms poses a myriad of issues that have to be dealt with,” the panel said. “The solutions that have been identified in this submission demonstrate deep research by those involved.”

3SQN also received a commendation for Best Workplace Health and Safety Practices at Unit/Branch Level for its Ground Safety Management System.

“3SQN has developed and implemented an innovative risk assessment methodology,” the panel said.

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