Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today called on Western Victorian workplaces to nominate their workplace safety at their workplace for the WorkSafe Victoria Awards 2010.
Ms Tierney said nominations for the awards had just opened and Western Victorian workplaces can nominate for a variety of categories including:
• Health and Safety Representative of the Year,
• Best Health and Safety Initiative in a Small Business,
• Health and Safety Committee of the Year,
• Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue, and
• Best OHS Management System.
“The WorkSafe Victoria awards always attract a high standard on nomination and we want to make sure that once again our local heroes are recognized,” Ms Tierney said.
“If there is that someone in your workplace who has come up with an idea to make it safer, put in the extra time on a health and safety committee then go ahead and nominate them.”
Last year’s finalists came from an enormous range of industries including manufacturing, construction, education, community services and came up with innovative ideas such as keg lifting machinery, roll over protection for fleet cars to worker safety measures in the community sector.
“The WorkSafe Victoria awards are really an important way of acknowledging and congratulating all of those Victorian workers and employers, who have helped and are continuing to help ensure that Victoria remains the safest place to work in Australia.
”Last year Victoria experienced the lowest workplace injury rate on record and the Brumby Government is extremely proud of this achievement. Through leadership at the workplace level, we can continue to have the safest workplaces of all Australian states.
“I encourage all local businesses to reward those in the workplace who make a difference to health and safety by nominating them for a WorkSafe Victoria award in 2010.”
Ms Tierney said that further information and applications could be downloaded from the WorkSafe web site worksafe.vic.gov.au/awardsor by calling the WorkSafe Awards Coordinator on 8663 5033 or email awards@worksafe.vic.gov.au. The applications close 7 May.