Issue Date:  -  Thursday, 5 March 1998

WorkSafe Plan

Kwinana company BOS Australia was rewarded today for its exemplary stands in occupational safety and health with a Silver WorkSafe Plan Certificate of Achievement.

Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath today presented BOS Australia's Managing Director Jim McGowan 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 BOS Australia 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 particularly evident from the significant decrease in injury rates achieved.

"The company has reduced its frequency rate of lost time injuries and diseases by around 80 per cent.

"Management at BOS Australia has recognised the importance of training to the organisation, and specialised training is arranged throughout the company according to each individual's requirements.

"The company also utilises the ThinkSafe SAM steps of Spot the hazard, Assess the risk and Make the changes by carrying out a job safety analysis to identify hazards on each and every project.

"The decrease in injury rates at BOS Australia is a tremendous achievement, and the challenge is now to further reduce the rate in the coming years," he said.

Mr Kierath congratulated BOS Australia 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.