Friday 9th April 2021

Safety News Update: Friday 9th April 2021

Welcome to our daily safety news roundup for 9th April 2021. Below, we cover two significant announcements shaping work health and safety across Australia: judging panel updates for the National Safety Awards of Excellence and a new specialist inspection team established by Comcare.

Judges Announced for National Safety Awards of Excellence

The NSCA Foundation has released the list of experienced judges forming an independent judging panel for the 28th National Safety Awards of Excellence.

Michael Charman will lead the judging panel, a role he has held since 2018.

National Safety Awards of Excellence remain Australia's longest-running independent awards, recognising outstanding work health and safety initiatives nationwide.

Any Australian who operates a business, organisation, alliance or individual practice in either public or private sectors, complying with one of nine categories, is welcome to enter.

Key Dates for 2021 Entries

• Entries open: 1st March 2021
• Entries close: 18th June 2021
• Winners announced: 14th October 2021 at a gala luncheon in Sydney

For further details on this year's awards, head to the National Safety Awards website.

Comcare Establishes Specialist Team of Inspectors

Comcare has established a specialist team of inspectors focused on work health and safety at major infrastructure projects across Australia.

Comcare oversees many major projects within its jurisdiction, including Sydney and Melbourne's underground rail infrastructure. Western Sydney International Airport and Snowy Hydro 2.0 represent developments in early stages falling under similar oversight.

This new inspector team brings experience in construction and engineering, proactively monitoring high-risk activities and safety systems on major projects nationally — a priority echoed in our April 16th 2021 safety news coverage of infrastructure compliance.

"The specialist Major Infrastructure Projects team will provide enhanced oversight and prevention-led interaction at large infrastructure and other complex construction projects," said Justin Napier, who heads Comcare's Regulatory Operations Group.

Regulatory Focus Areas

Comprising five members based across Sydney and Melbourne, the team will travel interstate to undertake regulatory activity in areas such as:

• Plant and people
• Falls from heights
• Falling objects
• Electrical safety
• Silica and dust

Comcare will regularly review resourcing for this unit while continuing to work proactively alongside state and territory work health and safety regulators.

Full media release details can be found on the Comcare website.

Stay Informed on Australian Safety News

Safety professionals across construction, manufacturing and healthcare sectors rely on timely updates like today's briefing to stay compliant with evolving regulations.

For more coverage from early 2021, read our 23rd April 2021 news summary or catch up with our 30th April 2021 safety bulletin for the latest regulatory developments shaping workplace safety standards this year.