Leighton Contractors Construction Ops win gold Worksafe Plan certificate

16/3/98

Leighton Contractors Construction Operations have been awarded a gold WorkSafe Plan certificate to reward their exemplary standards in occupational safety and health.

Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath presented the certificate today, pointing out they were not easily won.

"Last year only 28 organisations received achievement certificates and of those, only nine were gold standard," Mr Kierath said.

"I was particularly pleased to see Leighton Contractors Construction Operations has a philosophy that 'employees work with - not for' the company.

"It is a healthy attitude and one that prevents health and safety issues becoming an area of inaction and angst between everyone."

Mr Kierath said Leighton Contactors Construction Operations had made a number of changes after implementing the WorkSafe Plan assessment of their organisation and improvements had resulted in no lost time injuries last financial year.

Cutting the number of injuries was part of the Government's WorkSafe WA 2000 Vision to halve the number of workplace deaths by 2000.

Mr Kierath said maintaining an open-door policy on occupational safety and health issues and using the WorkSafe Plan assessment system had made Leighton Contractors a leader in occupational safety and health in the construction industry.

"I believe that if all businesses become involved in the WorkSafe Plan, they can improve their workplace safety and improve productivity and morale," he said.

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133