WorkSafe awards highlight the importance of workplace safety

WorkSafe Awards Highlight the Importance of Workplace Safety

The winners of the 2025 WorkSafe WA's Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards have been announced. Honours went to organisations, teams and individuals whose safety services and practical innovations continue lifting standards across Western Australia.

Key Takeaways

• WorkSafe WA received 138 nominations during 2025.
• Businesses, individuals and support services that reduce workplace harm were recognised.
• Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk framed safety as a shared duty rather than one person's job.
• Nominations reopen next year for every sector, from construction through to community services.

What These Awards Recognise

The Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards honour businesses and individuals for their remarkable efforts in ensuring the safety and health of Western Australians in the workplace. Entries arrive from mining, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and emergency services, with judges rewarding measurable results instead of paperwork alone.

This year, WorkSafe received a total of 138 nominations from organisations and individuals dedicated to creating safer and more supportive work environments. Nominees ranged from small trade operators through to major providers of essential services — a useful reminder that strong hazard control suits any size of business.

Safety Remains a Collective Responsibility

Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk said workplace safety is a collective responsibility for all individuals.

“This year's finalists have set a very high standard to which all workplaces should aspire, and I encourage anyone who has an interest in workplace health and safety to think about nominating next year,” the minister said.

"My congratulations to all the Award winners on your commitment to the health and safety of all Western Australian workers."

Turning Award-Winning Practice Into Daily Habits

Recognition programmes like this one set a gold standard, yet the underlying methods stay refreshingly simple. Below are five lessons any employer can apply this quarter.

1. Make Hazard Reporting Effortless

Frontline crews spot problems first. Quick digital forms mean maintenance services act within hours instead of weeks, and near-miss data starts guiding decisions. Our guide on reporting hazards to prevent harm explains how leading employers build that habit.

2. Assess Risk Before Work Begins

Documented assessments give supervisors, subcontractors and labour hire services a shared view of controls. Learn more about conducting risk assessments that keep safety in check before mobilising any crew.

3. Control Vehicle and Mobile Plant Hazards

Moving equipment causes some of the most serious incidents on site. Traffic plans, exclusion zones and pre-start checks protect drivers, pedestrians and delivery services alike. Review our advice on managing vehicle safety at work plus the Managing Risks of Plant Code of Practice update.

4. Keep Documentation Current

Policies, SWMS and registers only reduce risk when someone reviews them. Companies using external documentation services still need an internal owner for each control measure. Operating across the Tasman? Check our New Zealand workplace safety rules.

5. Train, Consult, Then Verify

Induction rarely changes behaviour by itself. Toolbox talks, refresher training services and verification of competency close the loop, while safety software keeps evidence audit-ready for regulators and clients.

Every Sector Can Aim for Excellence

Everything above travels well beyond building sites and factory floors — from farms and warehouses to hospital wards. Organisations that stand to gain include:

• Health and aged care services
• Emergency and rescue services
• Local government services
• Transport and logistics services
• Facility and cleaning services
• Education and childcare services

Nominate, Attend, Improve

Peer learning speeds progress. Industry events such as the Workplace Health and Safety Show let leaders compare controls, benchmark performance and source proven workplace safety solutions before their next audit cycle.

Additional information is available here.