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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-09 Daily Xml
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SAFE WORK WEEK

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:46): Will the Minister for Industrial Relations provide the chamber—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Thank you, Mr President. I will start again. Will the Minister for Industrial Relations provide the chamber with details of the recent Safe Work Week and awards?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for her very important question. Safe Work Week 2011 took place in metropolitan Adelaide from 24 to 28 October, and I am pleased to say that this year's event has been an outstanding success, both in terms of attendance and benefit to the community.

This year's program consisted of about 70 free information sessions at the Education Development Centre at Hindmarsh. Over 3,600 people attended these sessions that provided important and relevant information in relation to issues, such as the proposed model work health and safety laws, as well as specific workplace safety matters like manual handling, hazardous chemicals and risk management.

In addition to the metropolitan Safe Work Week, safe work presentations had already taken place in the regional areas of the state. Forty-eight presentations have been made to over 2,600 people in regional areas, such as Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Berri, Streaky Bay, Gladstone and Nuriootpa. These sessions were specifically delivered at times and in places that better accommodate the needs and schedules of our regional workplaces and industries.

Safe Work Week is an important event for promoting the health and safety message to the South Australian community, and it seems that South Australians want to learn more about this message. Nearly 19,000 free safety publications covering a wide range of occupational health and safety issues were distributed throughout Safe Work Week, while SafeWork SA has recorded an increased number of visits to its website as employers and workers strive to learn more on what needs to be done to ensure all people are safe while they are at work.

In addition to the workshop presentations, 307 businesses also signed up to receive the Take 10@10 packages. These packages provided training materials on 12 safety topics of concern to most workplaces. Participants were then able to discuss these topics in their own workplaces, meaning that thousands more workers were able to learn about safety issues related to them.

I thank the SafeWork SA Advisory Committee, SafeWork SA, SA Unions, Business SA and WorkCoverSA for presenting and coordinating this successful week of informative, high quality and relevant activities. It is through their hard work and dedication that the health and safety message will continue to be delivered long after Safe Work Week has concluded.

On Friday 28 October, I had the honour of presenting the 2011 Safe Work Awards at a ceremony held at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The annual Safe Work Awards celebrate and publicly recognise the efforts of those employers and individuals who lead by example in demonstrating their commitment to workplace safety.

In 2011, there was a record field of 80 nominations for the four categories of Safe Work Awards and Augusta Zadow scholarships which support occupational health and safety projects undertaken by or for women in South Australia.

The University of Adelaide won the award for Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System in the Public Sector for its commitment to occupational health and safety on many levels, including its systems, planning, investment of resources and integration into all levels of activity. An encouragement award was also awarded to SCOSA for Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System in the Private Sector.

Adelaide Shores has continued the great work that saw it win Employer of the Year (public sector) in 2009, by winning the award for Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue. Adelaide Shores introduced modified electric golf buggies which have been immediately successful in reducing and eliminating risks to safety for its 49 employees who are required to service cabins over its 20-hectare property.

The Hub Fruit Bowl at Aberfoyle Park won the award for Best Workplace Health and Safety Practice in a Small Business for its ongoing commitment to health and safety through its health and safety management system which includes relevant policies, procedures and induction programs as well as suitably addressing all risks associated with its business.

I congratulate Mr Dusty Hurst from Clipsal, Mr Paresh Chawda from Visy and Mr Jorgen Anderson from TAFE SA who each picked up awards in the category of Best Individual Contribution to Workplace Health and Safety. The winners of three categories will automatically become finalists in the national Safe Work Australia Awards which will be held in April 2012. South Australia has a proud history of achievement at the national level, and I wish all the finalists every success in next year's awards. Members can find a full list of winners of the 2011 Safe Work Awards on the SafeWork SA website. I take this opportunity to congratulate all the Safe Work award winners and entrants for their outstanding contribution to workplace safety.

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