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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 4641 ..

MS MacDONALD (continuing):

or know-how to go about making their workplaces safe. It gives them practical examples of what they can adopt and adapt to their own businesses.

ACT WorkCover's strategic plan for 2002-04 sets out its approach to improving occupational health and safety in the ACT. The plan identifies how ACT WorkCover will achieve its objectives and visions. ACT WorkCover provides advice and information to hundreds of workplaces yearly and it is through this increased awareness that we hope to see an overall decrease in workplace-related injuries. But higher standards in occupational health and safety cannot be achieved just through education and enforcement. That is why incentives and rewards continue to be a significant component of improving OH&S.

We can see that from the success of the ActSafe program, whereby businesses are awarded points for the safety practices they implement and can win contributions towards their next workers compensation insurance premiums and, of course, there is the great success of the annual occupational health and safety awards. Now in their 13^th year, this year's OH&S awards were held on 23 October and were the largest awards ceremony to date. The awards showcased the efforts of dozens of businesses and organisations that have proven that they are leaders in the OH&S field.

With three major aims-to encourage public and private workplaces throughout the ACT to develop and implement initiatives that help achieve a safer work environment; to share learning and help the award winning initiatives find their way into widespread practical application in workplaces; and to publicly highlight significant achievements in workplace health and safety-the OH&S awards provide workplaces with the opportunity to promote the innovations they have implemented and show why they are leaders in their field.

With nine categories this year, the awards covered all industries in the ACT, with businesses and organisations ranging from schools to hospitals, to government departments, to events. I would like to recognise all of those who were nominated, highly commended or lucky enough to win at this year's award ceremony.

The first category-outstanding leadership and contribution to health and safety-was won by ACT Tourism for its innovation concerning the Subaru Rally of Canberra. In the second category-best community safety initiative-the road safety section of Urban Services was highly commended for its commitment to workplace and public safety with the cycle lane awareness campaign. The ACTION Authority won the category with its bus safety education program, which was successfully implemented and accepted by the ACT community.

Three businesses were highly commended and two were joint winners under the best solution for a health and safety risk category. The ACTION Authority for its cylinder sleeve removal tool, Auswest Timbers for chip bin modifications and the Therapeutic Goods Administration for its risk assessment tool were all commended for their original and innovative solutions. The winners-the Canberra Hospital for the Canberra Hospital mobility status chart and Summernats for its fuel management system-also deserve our congratulations for their innovative solutions.

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