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WorkSafe Announcement:

In an Australian first, labour hire and recruitment consultancy HORNER have developed a new return to work program in partnership with charity organisation St Vincent de Paul Society.

On the 19th of October, the 9 winners of the 2017 WorkSafe Awards were named at a gala ceremony attended by 450 people at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne.

HORNER  have implemented a program with St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies), that allowed injured workers who are capable of returning to work, but not yet able to perform their pre-injury duties, return to perform light or modified duties at Vinnies shops as they recover and regain strength.

The initiative addresses the challenge faced by labour hire companies in finding suitable duties for injured employees while giving injured employees the chance to make a difference to a charitable cause. Since the program’s inception in 2013, HORNER has seen a dramatic reduction among staff in time lost from work due to injury.

Nominated for the WorkSafe Awards were 164 applicants, with only 23 finalists listed over 8 categories.

WorkSafe Chief Executive Clare Amies said the high quality of the finalists was a strong indication that employers and workers were making safety a priority in more Victorian workplaces than ever before.

“Each finalist has brought a new perspective to workplace safety by thinking ‘outside the square,” Ms Amies said.

“To see the lengths many of the finalists have gone to in order to address a health and safety issue or get back to work after an injury is simply inspiring.”

“The finalists have shown it doesn’t matter where you are based, or how large or small your organisation, safety is everyone’s responsibility and anyone can make a difference.”

“Every finalist can be proud of the wonderful work they are doing to make Victorian workplaces safer, and to help injured workers back to safe work.”

A charity set up to address high rates of suicide and depression among tradies, a trailer which can be lowered to ground level so goods can be loaded more safely, and a health and safety rep of 19 years who helped introduce a night shift to address worker fatigue are also among the winners of the 2017 WorkSafe Awards.

HORNER are proud and honoured to be the recipient of the 2017 WorkSafe Award for “Leading return to work practice by an employer!”

To be recognised by an industry leading body like WorkSafe is truly humbling and we will continue to strive for excellence in workplace health and safety.

Leading Return to Work Practice by an Employer
HORNER

Best Solution to a Specific Workplace Health and Safety Issue
Melbourne Water – Virtual reality in design

Best Solution to a Manual Handling Issue
HIAB Australia and Miglas – Mechanical devices that eliminate manual handling

OHS Achievement
HALT- Hope Assistance Local Tradies

Health and Safety Invention of the Year
Eziloader- Ground Level Loading Trailers

Health and Safety Representative of the Year
Michael Muscat- Visy Board

Commitment to Workplace Health and Wellbeing
Fonterra Australia

Return to Work Coordinator Excellence
Lindsey Doolin – Salvation Army

Worker Return to Work Achievement
Richard Wallace – Victoria Police

To all nominees, finalist and of course the winners, congratulations on continuing to maintain health and safety in the workplace as a key priority.