Finalists decided in annual workplace safety awards

Finalists decided in annual workplace safety awards

Auckland, 13 May 2014 - The finalists in the NZ Workplace Health and Safety Awards for 2014 have been decided. The winners in each of the categories, and an overall winner, will be announced at a gala dinner at SKYCITY Convention Centre in Auckland on 28 May.

The awards are organised by Thomson Reuters, publisher of Safeguard magazine, and proudly supported by WorkSafe New Zealand. The awards dinner coincides with the annual Safeguard National Health and Safety Conference.

Now in their tenth year, the awards are well established as an annual highlight for everyone involved in the prevention of injury and ill-health arising from work.

Safeguard editor Peter Bateman says that with the recent establishment of WorkSafe New Zealand as a stand-alone agency, new guidelines for company directors, and new health and safety legislation expected to be in force next year, workplace health and safety is on a roll.

“People with responsibility for health and safety tend to be passionate about their work and practical in their approach. If someone has come up with a new idea to reduce the risk of injury and illness they are usually more than happy to share it with others. These awards play an important role in celebrating worthwhile initiatives and sharing them with as many people as possible.”

The judging panel of five included representatives from WorkSafe, ACC, the NZ Council of Trade Unions, Safeguard, and a health and safety practitioner.

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

Kensington Swan best initiative to address a safety hazard
• Auckland Airport
• Countdown Logistics
• Fulton Hogan HEB TEL Construction Alliance

WorkSafe New Zealand best initiative to address a health hazard
• Countdown
• Mercy Hospital Dunedin

Vitae best initiative to improve employee wellness
• Auckland Transport
• Bay of Plenty District Health Board
• Hubbard Foods

NZ Safety best initiative to encourage engagement in health and safety
• Christchurch Engine Centre
• Compass Group NZ
• SafeRebuild Canterbury

SICK best use of design to eliminate or isolate a hazard
• Carters Petone
• HT E Holdings
• INTAKS NZ

Site Safe best health and safety initiative by a small business
• MBC
• Metrapanel
• Te Pari Products

Impac best significant health and safety initiative by a large organisation
• Fletcher EQR
• New Zealand Steel
• Pacific Steel

ACC best leadership of an industry sector or region
• Beca
• Fletcher EQR
• McLeod Cranes

NZISM health & safety practitioner of the year
• Alison Murphy, EQC
• Jim Gray, MB Century
• Paula May, Countdown

Ross Wilson – NZCTU most influential employee
• Paul Dennis, Lyttelton Port Company
• Paul Farquhar, Electrix
• Vern Rosieur, Northpower

Business Leaders’ Health & Safety Forum leader of the year
• Dave Chambers, Countdown
• Mike O’Brien, CHEP New Zealand
• Roger McRae, McConnell Dowell Constructors

The full conference programme is available at www.safeguard.co.nz

ENDS

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