More than 400 attendees enjoyed motivating stories from 21 of Victoria’s health and safety finalists at the 2024 WorkSafe Awards event last week. Seven winners were announced over six categories, with civil construction company Seymour Whyte and road safety organisation Community RoadSafe Mildura the joint winners of the OHS Leadership and Achievement award.
The HSR of the Year Award had six impressive finalists this year:
Barry McKenna from United Petroleum Hastings Terminal
Cameron Barber from Delcon Civil
Cameron Middleton-Else from Wodonga Middle Years College
Danny Humphrey from Qenos
Michael (Mick) Puché from Glenelg Shire Counci; and
Sue Healey and Mellisa Courts from Echuca Regional Health.
We extend our congratulations to every single one of them for the outstanding contributions they have made to their workplaces.
The 2024 WorkSafe Awards Winners are –
OHS Leadership / Achievement
- Community RoadSafe Mildura – Heavy Vehicle Forum
- Seymour White – Pound Road upgrade
Commitment to Prevention of Mental Injury in the Workplace
- Department of Transport and Planning
Leading Return to Work Practice
- St John of God Health Care
Worker Return to Work
- Matthew Manley – Kinross Farms
Workplace Health and Safety Solution of the Year
- Genesis Safety Change Table – Genesis Safety Pty Ltd
Health and Safety Representative of the Year
- Mick Puché – Glenelg Shire Council
The HSR of the Year Mick Puché is a plant operator who represents about 20 employees at the Heywood works depot of the Glenelg Shire Council. His proactive approach to safety and genuine care for his DWG members are demonstrated through his daily contributions to toolbox meetings, open discussions about safety concerns and mental health in the workplace and his influence extends far beyond just his immediate DWG.
SafetyNet spoke with Mick, who said that he was “absolutely stoked, surprised and so, so happy”. We asked Mick how he motivates his DWG to report safety issues – “I remind them that if they’ve diagnosed a safety problem and it’s not reported then it’s going to hurt you or hurt someone else. Don’t let management bully you into not reporting issues – there is a process to follow, so we follow it and the time it takes to assess risk or come up with controls is part of the job of staying safe.”
When we asked Mick if he has any advice for employees considering becoming an HSR, he said “Just do it. It will benefit you in many, many ways and it will make you a valuable member of your work group by learning about safety – because safety is everything. We all just want to do the right thing and go home safely”.
Finalist Danny Humphrey was an HSR at Qenos, which has since ceased operation. Danny has gone on to secure a role as an organiser for the AWU. When asked for advice to employees considering nominating for an HSR role Danny said “I would encourage every person that believes in advocating for their workmates to take the opportunity. HSRs are vital to ensuring our workplaces are safe. I also encourage all workers considering to be HSRs to be union members and to exercise your powers, including PINs and cease works, with confidence. Whilst being an active HSR can have its challenges it is also very rewarding knowing that you are playing a vital role in ensuring a safe workplace and also keeping employers honest and accountable.”
WorkSafe's Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ash West, commended the award winners for their remarkable accomplishments. "I'm incredibly proud of this year's winners. Through their creativity, care and compassion they have made such a positive contribution to the Victorian workforce," Mr West said. "The stories we've heard show that excellence in workplace health and safety goes beyond fulfilling legal duties – it’s a commitment to continuous improvement that delivers tangible results for our community."
Read more: WorkSafe Awards honour Victoria's health and safety heroes | WorkSafe Victoria
