Three mining sector companies named finalists in national safety awards

The finalists in the 8th annual Safe Work Australia Awards have been announced, with three companies from Australia’s mining sector in the mix.

Sibelco Australia from Tasmania will be vying for the Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System award, while Grange Resources and Bis Industries will be competing in the Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue category.

The finalists were announced by the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Work Australia, Mr Rex Hoy.

In commending this year’s finalists Mr Hoy acknowledged the outstanding contributions they had made to improve work health and safety.

“The 29 finalists across five categories have demonstrated what can be achieved through dedication and taking an innovative approach to work health and safety,” said Mr Hoy.

“The high calibre of this year’s entrants shows the level of commitment there is in our nation to keeping workers free from death, injury and illness.”

All finalists were category winners in their respective 2012 state, territory or Commonwealth work health and safety awards.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Canberra on Monday 29 April.

“In 2010-11, 220 workers in Australia died from a work-related traumatic injury with more than 170 000 workers injured badly enough to need five or more days off work,” said Mr Hoy.

“This is more than the population of a city each year being seriously injured at work. It demonstrates why we need to keep work health and safety at the top of our minds each and every day.”

For more information visit Safework Australia online at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au.