AusNet Services in Lilydale have been recognised as a finalist for the WorkSafe awards, for the creation of a worker safety application.
WorkSafe received more than 180 nominations from across Victoria for the seven award categories, which recognise excellence in workplace health and safety and return to work.
In consultation with workers, AusNet Lilydale designed an app to alert staff of safety hazards such as dangerous dogs, asbestos, aggressive customers, slips, trips or falls, or experiencing a medical emergency, particularly if they are working alone.
The new app uses existing information about risks to automatically prompt workers via a smart watch, as they approach a site. It also uses smart phone features such as fall detection and heart monitoring to alert managers to potential incidents while staff are working alone.
Other finalists include businesses, health and safety representatives, and people who have returned to work after injury, across industries such as health care, transport, construction, and farming.
WorkSafe Chief Executive Officer Colin Radford said it was wonderful to see the strength of entries in the Health and Safety Representative of the Year category, as well as in the new award for 2021, Commitment to Workplace Health and Safety on a Farm.
“We wanted to shine a light on the outstanding work of HSRs representing Victorian workers, as well as achievements in farm safety, including innovations that save time and lives,” he said.
Mr Radford commended all the finalists for their exceptional commitment to improving health and safety and to returning to work after injury.
“This year’s finalists have developed innovative approaches to new issues – such as the challenges of safely treating COVID-19 patients – as well as fresh solutions to ongoing challenges,” Mr Radford said.
“We’ve received many outstanding entries, including innovative use of technology, prevention-led approaches to mental health, and finalists going above and beyond in their commitment to workplace safety.”
In the Worker Return to Work category, Mr Radford said the finalists had shown incredible resilience and determination – particularly given some faced additional challenges to recovery due to COVID-19.
“The WorkSafe Awards celebrate the things that organisations and individuals do every day to support health and safety at work. Congratulations to all of the finalists.”
Winners of the WorkSafe Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony on 24 February next year.
