WORKPLACE safety has come a long way but it can still get better.

For Ampcontrol, one of the region’s bigger employers, it is a matter of life and death for their employees and the company is breaking new ground in supporting its employees.

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‘Live Work Better’, an employee safety and wellbeing program developed by Ampcontrol, was awarded Best WHS Improvement Award at the 2023 Hunter Safety Awards on Friday 17 March.

Designed in conjunction with EY Psychologists, the Live Work Better Program proactively addresses risk through attitudes and behaviours to build a better and safer workplace for its people.

Tailored uniquely to suit its diverse workforce of over 1000 employees in different geographical locations and operations across Australia, the psychology-based program is provided to all employees.

It aims to shift towards a culture of shared responsibility, ownership, and positive health, safety, environment, and quality (HSEQ) outcomes.

Accepting the award at the gala presentation night, Simon Coleman, Ampcontrol General Manager, Health, safety, environment, and quality (HSEQ) said, “we are thrilled to see our Live Work Better Program receive industry recognition for the significant improvement it is making to our workplace and the wellbeing of our people.

“The program challenges everyone at Ampcontrol, including me, regarding how we think, act, lead, and foster a culture of shared responsibility.

“Live Work Better is all about living and working better together, and it’s working.”

Since being launched in November 2020, 95 percent of the workforce has completed the program, consisting of online modules and face-to-face sessions varying between four and eight hours.

In just two years following the implementation of Live Work Better, Ampcontrol has seen a cultural shift in how HSEQ is managed throughout the business.

From 35 employees accessing and using the HSEQ management platform annually, to over 750 employees.

From under 2100 HSEQ conversations conducted and recorded, to now more than 5000; from under 1000 inspections completed to over 9000.

“Working with Ampcontrol has been fantastic, it’s a diverse range of people from engineers to tradespeople, and we’ve seen a high level of engagement all the way from the executive to the people on the ground,” says Roberto Garcia, EY Facilitator.

“At Ampcontrol, our people are at the heart of everything we do and our success.

“We understand our people don’t live to come to work, they work to live, to spend time with family and friends, to enjoy hobbies, weekends and holidays.

“The change of attitudes and behaviours it has encouraged is seen every day across the business.

“The investment and commitment we have made to the program has generated significant positive impacts and outcomes will be felt for years to come,” says Rod Henderson, Ampcontrol Managing Director and CEO.

Ampcontrol employee Liam Hutchinson was also nominated as ‘Student of the Year’.

Liam is a HSEQ Coordinator at Ampcontrol’s Capital Projects and Overhauls Business Unit in Tomago, NSW.

The Hunter Safety Awards were launched in 2016 to highlight and acknowledge companies and individuals within the Hunter region who demonstrate best-practice and innovative approaches when it comes to workplace health and safety.

The awards, which were presented across 13 categories, were held at Newcastle Exhibition and Conference Centre (NEX) on Friday 17 March 2023.

By Marian SAMPSON