WHS awards recognise innovative safety solutions

A wide range of innovative safety solutions has been recognised at the 2018 Comcare Work Health and Safety Awards.

The awards were presented at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of Comcare’s National Conference. They recognise achievement in delivering safer and healthier workplaces in a jurisdiction covering 400,000 workers and 200 employers.

Comcare CEO Jennifer Taylor said the awards celebrated leadership and innovation across the diverse national safety, rehabilitation and compensation scheme.

“The initiatives show how much opportunity there is to deliver significant, positive change in workplace safety and rehabilitation,” Taylor said.

“It’s important to reward these achievements and inspire others to reduce hazards and injury in the workplace.”

Engineering and construction firm John Holland received two awards. The company’s design and development of a gantry that provided a significantly safer environment for workers maintaining the jetty at the Dalrymple Bay coal port in Queensland won the Prevention Award. John Holland’s efforts to help a group of employees with long-term incapacity claims won the Recovery at and Return to Work Award.

Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer Cameron Symons was recognised with an Individual Contribution Award for designing a management system for heat stress in firefighting training. Virgin Australia received the Early Intervention Award for achieving a significant reduction in physical injuries for cabin crew through a new triage service.

2018 award winners include:

• Prevention: John Holland Pty Ltd, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Management Mobile Swing Stage Gantry.
• Early Intervention: Virgin Australia Airlines, Remote and on-site healthcare initiatives.
• Recovery At and Return to Work: John Holland Group Pty Ltd, Intensive Rehabilitation for long-term incapacity.
• Individual Contribution: Petty Officer Cameron Symons, Royal Australian Navy Department of Defence.

The full list of winners and finalists is available on the Comcare website.

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