Finalists decided in annual safety awards

Finalists decided in annual safety awards

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 23 April 2009

The finalists in the NZ Workplace Health and Safety Awards for 2009 have been decided from among the more than 130 entries received.

The winners in each of the 10 competitive categories, and a supreme winner, will be announced at a gala dinner at SKYCITY Convention Centre in Auckland on 6 May.

The awards are organised by Safeguard magazine and proudly supported by the Department of Labour. The awards dinner is timed to coincide with the Safeguard National Health and Safety Conference.

Safeguard managing editor Peter Bateman says the awards are now in their fifth year and are well established as an annual highlight for the wide range of people involved in the prevention of injury and ill-health arising from work.

“Health and safety people are the unsung heroes of the New Zealand workplace and thoroughly deserve one night of celebration each year.”

Too often, he says, health and safety issues feature in the media only after a workplace fatality. The awards are an opportunity to celebrate the good news about health and safety, and to share knowledge about initiatives that have worked well.

“Health and safety practitioners are by nature collegial and more than willing to share their thinking with others. The awards help to highlight good work and to assist in spreading innovative and effective ideas more widely.”

The category finalists, in alphabetic order within category, are:

Air New Zealand best initiative to address a safety hazard
. Humes Pipelines, Auckland
. KiwiRail TranzMetro, Wellington
. Paper Reclaim, Auckland

Department of Labour best initiative to address a health hazard
. Air New Zealand, Christchurch
. Royal New Zealand Air Force, Whenuapai
. Total Bridge Services, Auckland

OfficeMax best initiative to improve employee wellness
. Air New Zealand, Auckland
. Manukau City Council, Auckland
. Metrowater, Auckland

NZ Safety best initiative to encourage engagement in health & safety
. Department of Labour, Auckland
. KiwiRail Corporate, Auckland
. Otago District Health Board, Dunedin

SICK best design or technology initiative
. NZ Steel, Glenbrook
. Site Safe New Zealand, Wellington
. Transfield Services, Whangarei

Impac best health and safety initiative by a small business
. Manmac Ltd, Rotorua
. PJ & MJ Olsen Ltd, Tokoroa
. Troake, Silverdale

Transfield Services best significant health and safety initiative by a large organisation
. Foodstuffs (Auckland)
. Northern Gateway Alliance, Auckland
. WPI, Tangiwai

ACC best leadership of an industry sector or region
. Leighton Contractors, Huntly
. NZ Forest Owners Association, Wellington
. Otago District Health Board, Dunedin
. Super Air, Hamilton

Safeguard health and safety practitioner of the year
. Keith Johnson, Leighton Contractors, Huntly
. Mark Taylor, Fletcher Construction, Tauranga
. Paul Reyneke, Foodstuffs (Auckland)

Ross Wilson – NZCTU most influential employee
. Andy Holyer, Clearlite, Auckland
. Kaye Young, The Warehouse, Auckland
. Michelle Scarf, Otago District Health Board

The judging panel of five included representatives from the Department of Labour, ACC, the NZ Council of Trade Unions, Safeguard, and the winner of the health and safety practitioner from last year.

ENDS

© Scoop Media