More than 400 people gathered at Park Hyatt Melbourne last night to celebrate 21 finalists who went the extra mile to improve workplace health and safety or showed remarkable strength in their journey back to employment.
Seven winners were honoured across six award categories, including the OHS Leadership and Achievement award, which was jointly presented to civil construction company Seymour Whyte and road safety organisation Community RoadSafe Mildura.
Seymour Whyte was recognised for its outstanding initiatives on the Pound Road upgrade - which included a dedicated wellbeing room, a mental health app, and portable safety stations to reduce health and safety risks.
The company's General Manager Michelle Nation said as a result, the team completed more than 400,000 labour hours without any lost-time injuries, major incidents, infringement notices, penalties or public safety complaints.
"You don't get fantastic safety outcomes and a really strong culture by luck; you get it by having a very strategic focus and some very good leadership," she said.
Community RoadSafe Mildura received the accolade for its Heavy Vehicle Forum, an initiative created in response to a series of local heavy vehicle incidents in Sunraysia.
The Return to Work Achievement was awarded to maintenance fitter Matthew Manley, whose determination and resilience saw him return to work just three months after a serious hand injury.
Matt's commitment to rehabilitation inspired those around him, including his employer, Kinross Farms, which went above and beyond - driving Matt from Benalla to Melbourne for his appointments and ensuring he stayed connected outside of work.
"When you're sitting at home you get a lot of negative thoughts, so any sort of reinforcement that the workmates make, they give you a positive outlook - that you're not there by yourself, you're part of a team," Matt said.
The award for Workplace Health and Safety Solution of the Year was given to Gensis Safety for its height-adjustable change tables, designed to reduce the risk of hazardous manual handling injuries for early childhood educators.
St John of God Health Care took out the Leading Return to Work Practice award for its caregiver focused program that considered both physical and psychosocial factors; while the Department of Transport and Planning was commended for its Commitment to Prevention of Mental Injury in the Workplace.
Mick Puche was named Health and Safety Representative of the year for his efforts in supporting the physical and mental health of colleagues at Glenelg Shire Council.
WorkSafe Acting Chief Executive Officer Ash West congratulated the award recipients on their fantastic achievements.
"I'm incredibly proud of this year's winners. Through their creativity, care and compassion they have made such a positive contribution to the Victorian workforce," Mr West said.
"The stories we've heard show that excellence in workplace health and safety goes beyond fulfilling legal duties - it's a commitment to continuous improvement that delivers tangible results for our community."
2024 WorkSafe Awards winners
OHS Leadership/Achievement
Seymour Whyte - Pound Road upgrade
Civil construction company Seymour Whyte led the Pound Road upgrade - a major infrastructure project involving a new railway bridge, interaction upgrades and additional traffic lanes. By fostering a safety-first culture, the team successfully completed the 18-month project without any lost-time injuries, rail safety incidents, infringement notices, penalties or public safety complaints.
Community RoadSafe Mildura - Heavy Vehicle Forum
The Heavy Vehicle Forum is an initiative by Community RoadSafe Mildura in response to a series of local heavy vehicle incidents around Sunraysia in 2024. The forum provided heavy vehicle operators an update on road rules on both sides of the Vic-NSW border, and live demonstrations of safe loading techniques. Around 70 owner-operators attended the forum, alongside industry experts including Victoria Police, Transport NSW, and WorkSafe Victoria.
Commitment to Prevention of Mental Injury in the Workplace
Department of Transport and Planning (DTP)
DTP's mental health movement began in 2020 as part of its health, safety and wellbeing strategy. A workplace psychological safety index survey identified workload, reward and recognition, and work pressures as the top three concerns. In response, DTP implemented 30-40 initiatives, including a time and motion study to see how workloads can be reduced or managed more effectively. Since the mental health program has been in place, mental health injury claims at DTP have significantly decreased.
Leading Return to Work Practice
St John of God Health Care (SJGHC)
After an extensive review of its injury services program SJGHC identified musculoskeletal injuries and patient abuse as key concerns. In response, SJGHC developed a caregiver-centric return-to-work program that considered both physical and psychosocial factors. Initiatives included a 24/7 hotline for physical and psychological therapy, and a partnership with Navigator Group to provide remote physical therapy using motion tracking technology.
Worker Return to Work
Matthew Manley - Kinross Farms
While tightening a conveyor, Matt lost control of a spanner which shattered his arm and wrist and caused a severe degloving of his hand. One of his biggest challenges during recovery was being unable to drive for three months and having to relying on others. His team at Kinross Farms supported him by driving him to medical appointments, checking in on him, sending gifts and inviting him to social events. Matt's advice to others recovering from a workplace injury is to listen to those who are trying to help you.
Workplace Health and Safety Solution of the Year
Genesis Safety Change Table - Genesis Safety Pty Ltd
Gensis Safety's height-adjustable change tables reduce the risk of hazardous manual handling injuries for early childhood educators. Unlike traditional change tables which involve bending and lifting, the adjustable design lowers at the press of a button so toddlers climb inside. It then raises to a height of 88cm, enabling educators to change nappies at a comfortable level.
Health and Safety Representative of the Year
Mick Puche - Glenelg Shire Council
Mick is a plant operator and HSR who represents around 20 people. After losing a finger in an industrial incident, Mick committed himself to preventing workplace injuries from occurring. Mick leads daily toolbox meetings, facilities open discussions on safety concerns and supports mental wellbeing by organising social events. His proactive approach and genuine care are appreciated by his entire team.
