South Australian company takes top safety award

The South Australian-based Hardy Wine Company has taken top honours at the 2005 Safe Work Australia Awards.

The Company won the award for Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System, announced by Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Kevin Andrews.

The national recognition follows the Company's success at the South Australian awards in November last year.

The 2005 Safe Work Australia Awards represent the first time all State winners have been recognised at national level.

"The Hardy Wine Company's commitment to Occupational Health and Safety has led to a reduction of total time lost of all hours worked from 1.98% in 1995 to 0.31% in July 2005," Minister Andrews said on announcing the award.

"The company's fully integrated OHS and injury management system, led it, in 2001, to become the first company in South Australia and the first wine company in Australia to achieve accreditation to the Australian Standard AS4801 in OHS," he said.

"A commitment to effective communication and consultation between managers, supervisors, employees, elective health and safety representatives and union representatives is the foundation for the company's health and safety management system.

"Occupational health and safety (OHS) should be a fundamental consideration in any organisation.

"National consistency is the key driver to improving Australia's OHS performance, and the Australian Government is firmly committed to this goal."

For the first time, national finalists were automatically nominated after winning their respective State awards.

Hardy Wine Company "“ which employs about 2000 workers across its Australian vineyard and winery facilities "“ won its category from three other national finalists from New South Wales (Insurance Australia Group), the Australian Capital Territory (Cord Excavations) and Tasmania (Shaw Contracting).

The Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System award recognises demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement of workplace health and safety outcomes through the implementation of an integrated systems approach.

"The workplace safety and well-being of our staff is our paramount priority," managing director and chief executive officer, David Woods, said.

"We pride ourselves on the occupational health and safety standards we have in operation throughout the Company.

"For us, it is a matter of continuous improvement. We can never do enough to ensure our personnel are working in the safest possible environment."