Victoria's Workplace Safety Heroes

Awards were presented in six categories in front of almost 800 people at a gala event at Crown Palladium in Melbourne tonight.

There were 118 entries with 19 finalists in this year’s Awards from which the six recipients were chosen.

WorkSafe’s Executive Director, Health and Safety, John Merritt, said the Awards celebrated the important contribution made by individuals and organisations to create a safer working environment - and to share that knowledge with the community.

“The Awards recognise these people and acknowledge that with initiative and commitment health and safety improvements can be achieved.

“People and organisations taking part in the awards are leading the way and demonstrating the type of activity needed to reduce the number of preventable deaths and injuries.

“October has been a particularly bad month with five fatalities and as many life-threatening injuries. Incredibly, the October fatalities are nearly a quarter of the year’s total of 22 so far.”

Mr Merritt said with this background and no matter what the industry or field, progress happens  when people believe things can be done differently and better.

“We commend all of the Award recipients, as well as all of the finalists, for their strong commitment to making workplaces safer.

“We want every Victorian worker to return home safely every day and each Award recipient and finalist is helping us achieve this important goal, “Mr Merritt said.

Recipients of 2009 WorkSafe Victoria Awards

• Health and Safety Representative of the Year - Phyl Hilton from Toyota Motor Corporation
• Health and Safety Committee of the Year - RMIT - School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
• Best Solution to a Health and Safety Risk - Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE (BRIT)
• Best Solution for Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries - Cherry Constructions and Workright Safety Solutions
• Best Strategy for Health and Safety Management –Youth Justice Custodial Services - Department of Human  Services
• Best Design for Workplace Safety - Racing Victoria, Dan Mawby and Delta-V Experts

Award recipient summaries & contact details

Health and Safety Representative of the Year

Recipient: Phyl Hilton – Toyota Motor Corporation, Altona

Phyl, who works as a toolmaker at Toyota’s Altona Plant, has been a health and safety representative for 10 years. Representing 27 members in the trades department within the Press shop, he takes a leading role in identifying opportunities for safety improvements in his workplace.

Using a practical and collaborative approach, Phyl has played an integral part in many initiatives, including the design and construction of weld bay facilities, the procurement of portable fume extractors and the development of press plant policies in English and Japanese. Phyl was also part of the Traffic Management Control Working Party and the Working at Heights and Trades Hazard Mapping projects. He is committed to developing and driving safety knowledge among Toyota apprentices and actively mentors and coaches fellow health and safety representatives.

Toyota contact: Jennifer Bowker, 03 8369 7042 or 0408 032 408

Health and Safety Committee of the Year

Recipient: RMIT – School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Bundoora East

The Health and Safety Committee of RMIT - School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering has been in operation since 2004. It meets quarterly and has two health and safety representatives, four employee representatives and six management representatives. The committee operates across four campuses with more than 180 staff members and 2000 students. The School is unique as it operates both in an educative and industrial capacity with design, research and testing facilities onsite.

This includes large industrial wind tunnels, engine and chassis dynamometer facilities and an electric build and design facility. The school has also produced the first hydrogen racing car in Australia. These facilities and associated activities carry extremely high risks. The committee has reviewed, developed and implemented a wide range of safety measures to ensure the continued health and safety of employees and students. Initiatives include specific training needs for staff members, smart card access for high-risk areas, security camera installation in computer laboratories and incorporating OHS features into new building designs.

Contact:  Daniela Norman, 03 9925 0750

Best Design for Workplace Safety

Recipient: Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE, Bendigo

Initiative: Lathe Chuck Guard

Bendigo Regional Institute ofTAFE works with students and apprentices to prepare them for the workforce. An incident highlighted the risk of an operator forgetting to remove a key from the chuck on a lathe before turning it on. Working on lathes is a normal part of work in many businesses within the manufacturing industry. The chuck can spin at 1000rpm or more and this could cause the key to fly out from the machine with high force, creating a projectile that could result in serious injury to the operator or others close to the lathe.

The Lathe Chuck Guard protects the operator by refusing to close if the key is left in the chuck. The guard is interlocked to ensure the lathe can only be started with the guard closed. Having a guard assists with providing a safe work environment within the TAFE workshop. The Lathe Chuck Guard is a simple, cheap, yet effective, way of reducing the risk of projectile keys. It is adaptable for a range of lathes across industries and will benefit other educational facilities and the wider manufacturing industry.

Contact: Simon Harris, 0408 338 343

Best Solution for Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries

Recipient: Cherry Constructions and Workright Safety Solutions, Seaford

Initiative: Keg Handling System

The Keg Handling System is a mechanical aid system to assist the hospitality industry. It consists of a keg lifter, trolley, ramp and stack safe crosses and is used for handling beer kegs. Keg handling has been a major issue in hospitality for several decades and is traditionally done by hand without the use of mechanical aids. The Keg Handling System seeks to improve the way kegs, which can weigh up to 67kg, are handled and reduce the risk of injury. The keg lifter can lift a keg, manoeuvre it into position and lower it to the floor or on top of another keg with minimal effort from the operator. The trolley can pick up a keg from any position so that it doesn’t have to be moved to meet the trolley. It has a locking device so the keg is fixed to the trolley. The stack safe crosses allow the kegs to ’nest‘ into each other, stopping them from toppling.

The major risks associated with handling beer kegs are musculoskeletal injuries to the back, shoulders and arms, and crushing injuries. The automated and easy-to-manoeuvre system is readily used in small spaces and by a range of staff. This design can also be adapted for other industries to aid in lifting and transporting many items including gas bottles, oil drums and even large pot plants in nurseries.

Contact: Dennis Morgan, 0432 738 433

Best Strategy for Health and Safety Management

Recipient: Youth Justice Custodial Services - Department of Human Services, Parkville

Program: Clinical Group Supervision

The Youth Justice Custodial Services branch within the Department of Human Services manages the operational activities of the three Victorian youth justice centres. It employs more than 420 youth justice workers to help 222 young people aged between 10 and 21 develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to better manage their lives. To help staff address the challenges and stress associated with their work in youth justice, Youth Justice Custodial Services have developed the Clinical Group Supervision Program.

This involves a strategy to provide a facilitated clinical environment where youth justice workers are supported to deal with a range of issues encountered in their work. Each session gives staff the opportunity to discuss critical incidents, cumulative or organisational stressors and interpersonal conflicts. The program supports staff and management to develop strategies to influence positive health and safety changes in the workplace. It has had a positive impact on reducing stress and improving health and safety outcomes.

Contact: Murray Robinson, 03 9389 4400

Best Design for Workplace Safety

Recipient: Racing Victoria (Flemington), Dan Mawby and Delta-V Experts (North Fitzroy)

Initiative: Running Rails

Running rails have been a safety issue in the racing industry for many years, causing serious injuries to jockeys and horses involved in collisions. Track staff have also been hurt due to the manual handling required to set up and move rails. Designed and invented by Dan Mawby, tested by Delta-V Experts and used by Racing Victoria, this new lightweight durable UV-rated plastic running rail is a welcome replacement for the solid aluminium rails currently in use.

The major improvement is that the horizontal rail doesn’t break from the impact of weight-bearing objects – instead, it elevates, springs and bends on impact. The design and flexibility of this rail system also has the ability to steer a horse back on track should light contact be made, therefore avoiding injury. The new Running Rail is in place at Flemington and Caulfield Racecourse and some training facilities.

Contact: Racing Victoria – Bob Gilpin, 03 9258 4367 / Delta-V Experts – Dr Andrew Short, 0415984519 or 03 94812200