Safety 1st Provides Competitive Edge
Safety 1st Provides Competitive Edge - AE Smith
AS/NZS 4801 certification demonstrates AE Smith's Zero Harm culture |
| 23 Jan 2009 |
| AE Smith has redefined their “Safety 1st” company mission by achieving an industry leading national certification. The rigorous AS/NZS 4801 Australian Standards certification sets out strenuous requirements for health and safety systems and assesses how an organisation manages risk and hazards. This newly awarded certification provides valuable credentials to AE Smith – and now formally recognises their commitment to occupational health and safety excellence. “Beyond the numbered certification, this confirms our internal Workplace Health and Safety Management System is on the right track, plus it demonstrates to our customers and the wider industry that we’re really fair dinkum about the health and welfare of every member of our team,” comments National Safety Manager, Danny O’Reilly. But the accreditation has not come overnight. AE Smith started the journey to achieve this level of certification in September 2005 with the creation of a Safety Coordination role. The first steps were to revise and revamp safety systems and to build a ‘Zero Harm Culture’ amongst AE Smith’s teams. Complemented by a scrupulous internal audit program and ongoing training, AE Smith also put into practice learnings from a variety of second party audits on systems and procedures. “Gaining this level of certification has been a challenge but we’ve improved all of our operating processes, enhanced communication across our ranks as a result of the common focus – not to mention a significant reduction in the number of workplace injuries and lost time,” reflects Danny O’Reilly. Proud of AE Smith’s achievements, Danny O’Reilly is quick to recognise the AS/NZS 4801 certification also provides a competitive advantage: “There is a growing trend amongst our business partners and customers to place greater emphasis on the capacity and ability of contractors to effectively manage their health and safety obligations in respect of their own employees as well as that of the other contractors, visitors and members of the public.” “Our customers recognise AE Smith’s Safety 1st culture but we now also have the formal accreditation to back it up, which not many in our industry have,” adds Danny. While safety standards must be maintained to continue to hold this level of certification, AE Smith is keen to continue improving their safety culture. “We are committed to Zero Harm in all of our operations and our next step is to pursue a higher certification to the satisfaction of the Federal Safety Office and the Environmental AS/NZS 14001 standard,” adds Danny O’Reilly. |
