Health & Safety awards Finalists announced

27 April 2005

Inaugural workplace health & safety awards Finalists announced

The finalists have been decided in the inaugural New Zealand Workplace Health & Safety Awards, organised by Safeguard magazine with the support of the Department of Labour.

The winners of each of nine categories, and the overall winner, will be announced at a gala dinner at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau City on the evening of Thursday May 5th.

More than 160 entries were received from around the country.

"We have been overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of entries," says Safeguard editor Peter Bateman.

"There's a tremendous amount of good work going on to prevent injury and ill health at work all around the country. For the first time organisations can have that good work recognised."

He says the awards are a chance for people to remind themselves that workplace health and safety is a good news story for everyone.

"Health and safety usually only surfaces in the media following a death or injury at work. But behind the scenes there are thousands of dedicated people working to prevent injuries and illness, and organisations which recognise that successfully managing health and safety boosts productivity, enhances product quality, and lifts morale.

"Despite the occasional headlines, we shouldn't forget that workplace health and safety is actually a good news story."

The nine categories, and the finalists in each (listed alphabetically within category) are:

Department of Labour best productivity gain from a health and safety initiative

Carter Holt Harvey Penrose Mill (Auckland) Metrowater (Auckland) PPCS Canterbury (Christchurch)

Employment Today best initiative to improve employee health and wellness

Auckland Regional Public Health Service (Auckland) Switzer Residential Care (Kaitaia) Vector (Auckland)

Air New Zealand best system to encourage employee participation in health and safety

Norske Skog Tasman Paper (Kawerau) Oldfields (Masterton) P F Olsen (Rotorua)

Air New Zealand best health & safety management system implementation

BOC (Auckland) NZ Post (Wellington) Vector (Auckland)

SICK best design or technology initiative

Fibre Logistics (Rotorua) PPCS Richmond (Te Aroha) Transfield Services NZ (Auckland)

Boise Office Solutions best health and safety initiative by a small business

Logic Forest Solutions (Gisborne) MDL Harvesting (Taupo) Training & Quality Services (Napier)

ACC Thinksafe best leadership by an industry or industry body

CApENZ (New Plymouth) Central North Island Timber Processing Forum (Whakatane) Coverstaff (Auckland)

Safeguard health and safety practitioner of the year

Anin Nama of Metrowater (Auckland) Peter Kiely of AWRCF Team Isis (Auckland) Roanna Carran of Coverstaff (Auckland)

NZ Council of Trade Unions most influential employee

Anesrita Narendra of Vincentian Home and Hospital (Wellington) Ian Wilkie of Toll NZ (Christchurch) Joey Ngatikaura of CHH Woodproducts (Tokoroa)

The five members of the awards judging panel are: Mike Cosman from the Department of Labour's Occupational Safety and Health service; Karen Fletcher from the NZ Council of Trade Unions; Phillip McIntosh from ACC; Fran O'Keefe from ACI Glass Packaging; Peter Bateman from Safeguard.

ENDS

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