Organisers of the inaugural Hunter Safety Awards are encouraging local organisations to use National Safe Work Month as a prompt to reflect on work, health and safety (WHS) in their workplace and nominate for the Hunter Safety Awards.
The Awards aim to recognise and reward those local workplaces that are striving to build innovative WHS cultures.
Hunter Safety Awards founder Sarah-Jane Dunford said that there are businesses that are embracing WHS as a core element of their workplace strategy and operations, but they are often quiet achievers.
“It’s essential that these organisations are recognised, not just to raise their own profile, but also the profile of businesses in the Hunter region,” Mrs Dunford said. “Whilst there are state and national awards, the Hunter business community needs to be able to see for themselves the amazing advancements that are being achieved here at home.”
“In addition, by highlighting the case studies that will emerge from the award finalists and winners it can provide inspiration and motivation for other businesses who may not know where to start.”
Statistics from Safe Work Australia state that:
- In 2014, 188 workers were killed in work related incidents.
- Being involved in a vehicle incident continues to be the most common cause of workplace fatalities.
- In the least decade, mental stress claims are most common in workers aged 40-54.
- In 2014, 94% of workplace fatalities were male.
“The purpose of National Safe Work Month is to focus attention on workplace health and safety. The purpose of the inaugural Awards is to recognise and reward those workplaces that have done so and achieved positive outcomes,” Mrs Dunford concluded.
The Awards comprise of 11 key categories, with nominations now open for 10 of the categories.
- WHS Business of the Year (not open for submissions) – sponsored by Blackwoods
- WHS Champion of the Year – sponsored by Online WHS
- Young WHS Leader of the Year – sponsored by Lifestyle Cleaning Services
- Most Innovative WHS Idea – sponsored by WesTrac
- WHS Student of the Year – sponsored by the University of Newcastle
- Best WHS Training Course – sponsored by HVTC
- Cutting-edge WHS Marketing
- Best WHS Management System (Large organisation) – sponsored by Greencap
- Best WHS Management System (SME)
- Best WHS Improvement (Large organisation)
- Best WHS Improvement (SME)
Businesses are encouraged to visit the website to download criteria for the awards.
Company Snapshot |
Hunter Safety Awards
The Hunter region is well-known for leading the way in industry, this in turn has led to the region becoming champions of WHS.
The Hunter Safety Award were born out of desire to recognise companies and individuals within the Hunter region who are demonstrating best-practice and innovative approaches when it comes to workplace health and safety (WHS).
