Two new awards have been added to this year’s Comcare Work Health and Safety Awards—the first time Comcare has administered the awards in its own right.

 

The awards have previously been administered by the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (SRCC). This changed with the introduction of the new work health and safety (WHS) laws in January this year, as Comcare is now the sole regulator of WHS in the scheme.

 

The new awards (categories six and eight) will recognise Health and Safety Representative of the Year and Claims Manager of the Year.

 

The 2012 awards categories are:

Category one: Best Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program

Category two: Leadership Award for Injury or Disease Prevention and Management

Category three: Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System

Category four: Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue

Category five: Best Individual Contribution to Health and Safety

a) A worker

b) A worker with responsibility for WHS as part of their duties

Category six: Health and Safety Representative of the Year

Category seven: Rehabilitation and Return to Work Award

a) An organisation

b) An individual

Category eight: Claims Manager of the Year

 

Comcare CEO Paul O’Connor said the expansion of the awards in 2012 acknowledges the importance of health and safety in the workplace.

 

“I encourage as many nominations as possible for these awards which recognise excellence in workplace health and safety, rehabilitation and return to work achieved by individuals and organisations covered by the Comcare scheme.

 

“Many organisations and employees make a vital contribution to health and safety in the workplace.

 

“The awards highlight these contributions and how important they are in keeping employees safe, both physically and mentally at work,” Mr O’Connor said.

 

The awards will be presented at a dinner in Sydney on 20 September 2012 as part of the Comcare National Conference.

 

Further details on the awards can be found at www.comcare.gov.au/events.