University Safety Awards 2001

1. The Awards

The UWA Safety Awards acknowledge the contributions made to occupational safety and health at the University by Faculties, Departments, Sections and also individuals. It also facilitates the sharing of these approaches and achievements between different work areas.

History

This is the third year the awards have been presented on behalf of the University Safety Committee. These 2001 awards are for activities and achievements made since 2000.

Requirements

Written submissions were required. The deadline for both categories was 17th August 2001.

Selection Panel

A selection panel met and decided on both awards. Members of the selection panel were

• Professor Yianni Attikiouzel, Chair, University Safety Committee
• Mr Bob Farrelly, Director, Human Resources
• Mr Russell Candy, Director, Facilities Management
• Ms Melanie Baker, Occupational Therapist, UWA Safety and Health

Presentations

A presentation function was held in the Prescott Room, Vice-Chancellery on Tuesday 9th October 2001. The master of ceremonies was Professor Yianni Attikiouzel, Chair of the University Safety Committee. Professor Alan Robson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor presented the awards.

Winners for both categories received gift vouchers sponsored by the University Cooperative Bookshop. An article on the Safety Awards will also appear in UWA News.

2. Departmental Safety Award

The Departmental Safety Award acknowledges best practice approaches and achievements in occupational safety and health management by Faculties, Departments or Sections.

Faculties, Departments and Sections were restricted to 3,000 words (5 page) submissions (attachments permitted) based on criteria used by the WorkSafe Plan from WorkSafe WA. The five elements and standards used were:

Nominations were required by 17th August 2001. Copies of all submissions were then circulated to all participants and the finalists offered the opportunity to resubmit their submissions by 21st September 2001. Some applicants either resubmitted or provided additional supporting materials. In considering the nominations the different circumstances of the nominated areas and the extent and significance of the systems approach and safety achievements made were taken into account.
The finalists for the departmental safety award were

• Animal Care Unit
• Botany Department
• Facilities Management - Maintenance Workshop
• Student Guild
• Zoology Department

The winner of the Departmental Award was the Department of Botany.

Noteworthy aspects of the application included:

• Well established Departmental Safety Committee
• Head of Department is active in Safety Committee and implementation of programs
• Good safety action plan
• Safety noticeboard, website and e-mails used to spread safety messages
• Training in laboratory safety, evacuations, inductions and first aid regularly arranged with compulsory attendance
• Chemical hazard management vastly improved
• Annual safety forums and safety booklet
• Finalist in 2000

L to R - Professor Alan Robson (Deputy Vice Chancellor), Mr Brad McManus (Guild), Mr Tom Stewart (Zoology), Professor Di Walker (Botany), Mrs Sue Lewis (Animal Care Unit), Ms Liza Tunnell (Botany), Mr Geoff Billiewicz (Animal Care Unit), Mr Jack Kirkness (FM), Mrs Joan Rodrigues (FM), Associate Professor Dale Roberts (Zoology)

A Special Award of Achievement was given to the UWA Student Guild.

Noteworthy aspects of the application included:

• Risk management focus with safety as top priority
• Benchmarking performance using key performance indicators of number of workers' compensation claims, total claims value and average value of claim, number of lost time injuries and percentage of budget spent on training
• Safety inductions for all staff
• Safety training plan
• Encouraging safety focus in student clubs
• Guild Safety Committee

Guild Personnel - Kristy Duckham (Guild President), Brad McManus (Managing Director), Thim Lee (Financial Director), Evan Battalis (Catering Director)

Noteworthy aspects of the Animal Care Unit nomination included:

• Budget allocation for safety and health items
• Standard operating procedures are safety orientated
• Safety issues raised at staff meetings
• Manager awareness and support for safety issues including signage, training, equipment and provision of personal protective equipment
• All users of animal facilities must complete a two day induction course, in which personal safety is covered

Noteworthy aspects of the Facilities Management (FM) - Maintenance Workshop nomination included:

• Primary responsibility for safety inductions and supervision of building construction and maintenance contractors on campus
• Safety issues raised at weekly staff meetings
• Safety inductions for FM staff
• Regular hazard inspections
• Safety skills audit being undertaken

Noteworthy aspects of the Department of Zoology nomination included:

• Departmental Safety Committee
• Safety inductions for staff and postgraduate students formalised in a PowerPoint presentation, with provision of a safety induction booklet
• Workplace inspection program that includes the Safety and Health Representative
• Record keeping for training and workplace inspections

3. Individual Safety Award

The Individual Safety Award is to acknowledge outstanding contributions by individual University employees in establishing and maintaining high standards of occupational safety and health activities and achievements within the University.

The contributions to workplace safety may be at a University, Faculty, Departmental or Section level and have occurred or were maintained since 2000. Evaluation took into account the different circumstances of the work areas.

Submissions were required by 17th August 2001 and were restricted to 1,500 words (3 pages). The person being nominated or any other University employee (s) could prepare the nominations. In the latter, it was recommended that the person being nominated endorse the submission. The nominees were:

• Mr Jack Kirkness (FM)
• Mr François Leunberger (Student Guild)
• Ms Cathy Smith (Human Resources)
• Mr Bill Wilson (Geography)

The winner of the Individual Safety Award was Mr Jack Kirkness (FM). He received a framed certificate and gift voucher sponsored by the University Co-operative Bookshop.
Noteworthy aspects of the nomination for Jack Kirkness included:

• Received several nominations from both UWA staff and an external contractor
• Responsible for implementation of the safety induction program for UWA FM contractors
• Vigilant and consistent in applying safety guidelines within the University
• Review and updated the contractors workplace safety and health procedures
• Approachable and enthusiastic manner in relation to safety issues
• Member of the University Safety Committee
• Participated in the 2001 Safety Seminar
• Regular contributor to safety personnel meetings

Professor Alan Robson (Deputy Vice Chancellor) and Jack Kirkness (FM)

Noteworthy aspects of the nomination for Mr François Leunberger (Student Guild) included:

• Generation of safety operations manuals for Guild Catering
• Implementing recommendations to improve safety in the workplace
• An essential part of the process of improving the safety culture within the Student Guild
• Introduction of FoodSafe program

Noteworthy aspects of the nomination for Ms Cathy Smith (Human Resources) included:

• Leadership role in relation to safety and health
• Involvement in various safety issues including workstation ergonomics, office lighting/glare problems and first aid course for staff
• Development, implementation and monitoring of a 3 month pilot health promotion program for Human Resources staff

Noteworthy aspects of the nomination for Mr Bill Wilson (Geography) included:

• Long standing involvement and commitment to safety and health issues
• Administration controls associated with chemical hazards including written and practical test for use of hydrofluoric acid and use of equipment such as centrifuges
• Involvement in the Four Wheel Drive course
• Development of a working in remote locations checklist for Geography staff and students

4. WorkSafe Plan - Silver Award of Achievement for UWA

Mr Rod Powell from WorkSafe WA acknowledged the recent audit recommendations for a Silver award of achievement for the University.

This is a great achievement by the University and everyone involved in the audit has been commended for demonstrating a very professional approach to safety. The challenge for the University is now to maintain this commitment through continuous improvement and to reduce the current injury statistics so as to aim towards achieving a Gold certificate in the future.

University representatives will also be attending a formal award presentation of the Silver Certificate Achievement at a WorkSafe WA dinner on the 26th October 2001. The awards will be attended by other award winners and will be presented by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection, John Kobelke and WorkSafe WA Executives.

October 2001 (F1046)