A WorkCover NSW business mentor program is helping manufacturing and construction businesses improve workplace safety.
The 2007 Safe Business is Good Business Mentor Program has seen 13 organisations from the construction and manufacturing industries act as mentors to almost 70 small businesses across NSW.
The mentor program is a practical way to help small businesses in the construction and manufacturing industries reduce injuries and build a sustainable safety culture.
“The program assists small businesses to help them meet their workers compensation obligations, and improve workplace safety and injury management procedures,” WorkCover NSW Business Assistance Branch director Tony Robinson told FEN.
“The program will allow businesses to gain expertise in managing safety issues and workers compensation, and expose their business to larger businesses,” he said.
The program also allows larger manufacturers to gain an appreciation of small business needs, which are often a part of their supply chain.
“We are finding that the mentors gain a better appreciation of small business needs, and improved confidence for staff members participating mentoring in the program.”
Rail Industry Service Providers, a small maintenance contractor to the rail industry, was paired with Onesteel following an initial workshop with Workcover.
“We have a small maintenance team of nine, and I became interested in the program to increase safety and benefit from the Workcover rebate,” Rail Industry Service Provider site manager John Keogh told FEN.
“Onesteel conducted an initial site inspection of our operations and gave us feedback on potential hazards with working at heights, start-up procedures, and dangers with forklifts and other equipment,” Keogh said.
“We were not aware of some potential hazards and now we have a better understanding of safety risks and our legislative obligations.”
Workcover inspectors and business advisory officers are available to small businesses for one-on-one consultation, advice and assistance as part of the program.
Attendance at safety workshops will help small businesses qualify for a $500 WorkCover rebate under the NSW Government’s Small Business Safety Program.
“Manufacturers will be able to claim the safety solutions rebate by having an advisory visit and developing a safety action plan, or by attending a workshop and developing an action plan,” Robinson said.
WorkCover’s Business Assistance Branch was established to focus on the needs of small to medium sized businesses, and has presented more than 450 workshops across metropolitan and regional New South Wales in the past 18 months.
Key contact:
WorkCover NSW
mentorprogram@workcover.nsw.gov.au
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
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