SENIOR staff at Albury’s Torney and Allen Electrical Contractors know just how important it is to ensure apprentices make safety their first priority; particularly as workers return from their holiday break.
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“We have to make sure they’re back on the ball, that they’re not still in party mode,” the company’s workplace health and safety officer Kevin Paech said.
“We are committed to preventing injuries in our workplace.”
The company provided apprentices with an induction program to help them understand their workplace safety rights and obligations, heeding the calls of WorkCover NSW, which has warned against complacency in the workplace as the holiday period comes to an end.
WorkCover’s Albury district co-ordinator Neville Burt said there was a risk of injury from “lack of concentration”, and he encouraged workers to make a safe start to the year.
Mr Burt said there was often a spike in workplace injuries after holiday breaks and extra caution was needed during these times.
“This is particularly important for workers who have had changes to their job or workplace over the break,” he said.
He stressed the need for businesses to reinforce safety and focus as workers returned to the job.
“This can be done through inductions, toolbox talks or tips for safety which highlight the business’ safety culture and emphasise safe work methods,” Mr Burt said.
With thousands of young workers entering the region’s workplace for the first time, Mr Burt said businesses needed to provide them with training and supervision to stay safe on the job.
In NSW workplaces during 2011-12, 12 per cent of all injuries occurred among young workers, including 989 incidents in the Border region and South West NSW.
