Health and safety initiatives rewarded in Victoria

The annual WorkSafe Victoria Awards had a record number of finalists this year, demonstrating the many ways that health and safety is being addressed in the arts, construction, manufacturing, entertainment and recreation industries.

Announcing the 31 finalists chosen from a field of 160, WorkSafe's executive director, John Merritt, said the calibre of this year's finalists indicated a heightened commitment to achieving better safety outcomes.

"This year's finalists come from a diverse range of workplaces, ranging from the Australian Ballet and Healesville Sanctuary to steel mills, factories, local government and hospitals.

"Small, medium, large and government organisations from metropolitan and regional Victoria are represented. They've shown initiative, problem solving and commitment to improved health and safety," Merritt said.

This year started a new category in the awards for Best Design for Workplace Safety. The category acknowledges an innovative design of a building, structure or plant that removes or significantly reduces a workplace risk.

"It's impressive to see the level of commitment that many organisations are making to improve health and safety in their workplaces," said Merritt.

The award recipients will be announced at a gala dinner on Tuesday 23 October during Work Safe Week, which runs from 22 to 26 October.

For more information on the awards and to buy tickets for the dinner, visit www.worksafe.vic.gov.au.