Issue Date:  -  Wednesday, 25 March 1998

Serco Silver Certificate

Balcatta company Serco Water (WA) Pty Ltd was rewarded today for its excellent standards in occupational safety and health with a Silver WorkSafe Plan Certificate of Achievement.

Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath today presented Serco Water Contract Manager Bob Evans with the WorkSafe Plan Silver Certificate of Achievement for attaining an excellent rating in occupational safety and health management.

"These certificates are not given easily, and everyone can rest assured that Serco Water has outstanding occupational safety and health management systems, and has certainly earned this recognition," Mr Kierath said.

"Last year just 28 organisations received silver or gold Certificates of Achievement."

The WorkSafe Plan - launched by WorkSafe Western Australia in 1994 - is an assessment plan which rates occupational safety and health management systems and recognises good performance in the workplace.

To receive a Certificate of Achievement, enterprises must achieve certain scores in five key areas:

• management commitment to a safe and healthy work environment;
• occupational safety and health policies, plans and procedures;
• consultation between employers and employees;
• systems to identify workplace hazards and to assess and control risks; and
• safety and health training at all staff levels.

"The successful management of occupational safety and health in the organisation is evident from the decrease in injury rates achieved.

"The company has reduced its frequency rate of lost time injuries and diseases by around 13 per cent.

"Management at Serco Water has recognised the importance of training to the organisation, and hazard identification and job safety analysis is included in all work instructions.

"All staff participate in safety training and occupational safety and health awareness sessions, and safer solutions are found through the investigation of alternative work methods," Mr Kierath said.

In 1995, the Water Corporation awarded the contract for the provision of operations and maintenance services for the Perth Northern Region to Serco Water.

Serco Water and the Water Corporation formed an alliance contract managed by a board made up of equal membership of Serco Water and the Water Corporation.

This alliance encourages a spirit of co-operation and openness with the objective of achieving an environment of continuous improvement.

Mr Kierath congratulated Serco Water on reaching silver status, and commended their decision to become involved in the WorkSafe Plan.

"I would strongly advise all businesses to become involved with the WorkSafe Plan because thinking about, discussing and improving safety at work can only improve productivity and morale," he said.