Large & Small Businesses Pair Together to Address Safety
Australia’s WorkCover New South Wales (NSW) is calling for small and large businesses from Sydney and the Illawarra to take part in its 2012/13 Mentor Program.
The WorkCover Mentor Program involves large businesses pairing with a small business from the same industry to help them identify new ways to address safety in their workplace.
Small Businesses Gain Industry Specific Advice From Mentor
General Manager of WorkCover’s Work Health and Safety Division, John Watson, said the Mentor Program enabled small businesses to gain industry-specific advice on how to meet their workplace safety, injury management and workers compensation obligations.
“Workplace injury, illness and fatality continue to be a significant cost to industry and the NSW community, and WorkCover understands how challenging it can be for small businesses to dedicate time and resources to work health and safety,” Watson commented.
“The WorkCover Mentor Program provides small business with access to expert advice and assistance from a large business within their industry who understands the work health and safety challenges they face and can suggest innovative solutions to everyday problems.
330 Businesses Participate, 95% Success Rate
“More than 330 businesses have taken part in the Program since it commenced with 95 per cent of last year’s mentees implementing work health and safety improvements after participating in the program.
“Every worker wants to return home safely at the end of the working day and WorkCover recognizes that the support of business through initiatives like the Mentor Program is essential to improving work health and safety across the State,” Watson added.
Melinda Leyshon, managing director of western Sydney licensed mechanics, Production Automotive, added the Mentor Program provided the opportunity for a small business to gain a better understanding of work health and safety and check that they had effective systems in place.
Keep Employees Safe By Working On Your Business
“We are a family business and want everyone to go home from work safe,” Leyshon noted. “The Program gave us a lot of confidence that we were heading in the right direction in relation to safety and also massively increased our knowledge and understanding of work health and safety. Without a doubt I would encourage other small businesses to participate. It’s the best time you will spend working on your business rather than in your business.”
Following an official launch on Oct. 9, 2012, the Mentor Program will be rolled-out to other regions of NSW during 2013.
Mentees are also eligible to apply for a $500 rebate after making a safety improvement in their workplace (terms and conditions apply). For more information on the WorkCover Mentor Program 2012-13, visit www.workcover.nsw.gov.au.
Author Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
WORKERS COMP MANAGEMENT MANUAL: www.WCManual.com
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