Strategy helps cut worker injury by almost half

A work health and safety program which has cut workplace injuries by almost half has earned a council a regional award from the NSW Business Chamber Awards.

Tweed Shire Council representatives were presented with the Excellence in Workplace Health & Safety prize when the awards’ 2014 Northern Rivers regional winners were recognised at a ceremony in Byron Bay.

A restructure of the council’s workplace safety strategy and procedures has achieved a 40% reduction in compensable injuries since 2009 and a 45% reduction in the amount of worker time lost to injuries.

Council’s workers compensation premium has been reduced from $2.7 million in 2009-10 to less than $1 million in the coming 2014/15 financial year, achieved through changing the safety culture and supporting an incident reporting framework.

Council General Manager Troy Green said: “This award further demonstrates that council is highly committed and proactive in protecting the health and wellbeing of its staff, who have been employed to serve the community.

“It is terrific recognition for council staff across the organisation who have positively supported the initiatives and worked hard to implement a range of great innovations and procedures to help protect themselves, their colleagues and the community.”

The new strategy focuses on a cyclic approach to constantly measuring, evaluating and revising council’s work health and safety policy and procedures.

Council will now represent the Northern Rivers at the 2014 NSW Business Chamber State Business Awards in Sydney on 28 November.