ANC Forestry Group in Morwell and Whelans Group Investments in Bairnsdale are among the winners of the prestigious 2015 WorkSafe Awards.

The annual WorkSafe Awards recognise and celebrate individuals and employers who have demonstrated a significant contribution to workplace health and safety in Victoria. The awards were announced at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre on the final day of WorkSafe Victoria’s Health and Safety Week.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing congratulated both winners for their determination to make their workplaces even safer.

ANC Forestry Group was awarded Best Solution to a Specific Workplace Health and Safety Issue. The harvest and haulage company has created a new chain restraint system to prevent logs shifting or slipping off trucks during transit.

Whelans Group Investments, which operates an earthmoving, road construction, and quarry operating business, won the Health and Safety Invention of the Year Award.

They have developed a quad dog trailer that eliminates the need for the trailer to be elevated to unload material. The system eliminates falls from heights, a range of manual handling issues and the risk of coming into contact with overhead power lines.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing

“It’s wonderful to see two Gippsland businesses recognised for leading the way in workplace safety and innovation. Through their work to tackle safety challenges and risks on the ground, they’re setting a great example for others to follow.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Finance, Robin Scott

“Workplace safety is everyone’s business and it is fantastic to see so many people and organisations striving to keep others safe at work.”