Deaths, injuries at work prevented by Wollongong leader in high risk industry.
Wollongong-based arboriculture business, Bohmer’s Tree Care and its Director Clive Woodnutt took home two of the six SafeWork NSW 2016 Awards, hosted the ABC’s Adam Spencer at a formal function at Sydney’s Doltone House.
The major SafeWork Award was presented to Clive (known as Bohmer, his climbing name) for
NSW SafeWork Leadership in Safety Award that recognised his outstanding achievement, innovation and leadership for work health and safety.
Bohmer’s Tree Care took home the Excellence in Workplace Health and Safety Culture Award, together with international engineering enterprise Laing O’Rourke (joint winners).
Six awards were presented to a selection of 20 finalists that were recognised as organisations and individuals who have gone the extra mile in the area of safety at work.
A range of industries were represented, including construction, health, communications and administration.
The six award categories included:
- Excellence in Workplace Health and Safety Culture (Bohmer’s Tree Care);
- Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue;
- Best Individual Contribution to Workplace Health and Safety;
- Excellence in Return to Work for Business;
- Return to Work Achievement Award for Workers; and
- SafeWork NSW Leadership in Safety Award (Clive Woodnutt, Director, Bohmer’s Tree Care)
Mr Woodnutt said he worked in a high risk industry and had witnessed serious injuries and fatalities in his 30 year international career.
“My priority is to ensure that my staff go home safely at the end of each working day,” he said.
Clive acknowledged SafeWork’s role in working with businesses such as Bohmer’s Tree Care.
“I am delighted to be recognised by SafeWork NSW, who do an outstanding job at working with businesses such as Bohmer’s to reduce incidents in the workplace and encourage education around safety, an area that I’m particularly passionate about,” he said.
SafeWork NSW Executive Director Peter Dunphy said the awards recognise businesses and individuals who have improved safety and injury management outcomes that have delivered tangible results through innovation, forward thinking and positive change.
“These have the capacity to be rolled out across other workplaces, with the potential to reduce safety risks and save lives,” Mr Dunphy said.
Mr Woodnutt also thanked the Company’s Managing Director, his wife Natasha Woodnutt.
This year Mrs Woodnutt was a 2016 finalist in the Illawarra Women in Business Awards for training, mentoring and leadership in the male-dominated arboriculture industry.
Bohmer’s Tree Care holds the 2015 Local Business Award for Business Trades and Services. In addition, the arboriculture company was a 2016 finalist in two categories at the Illawarra Business Chambers Awards for Best Small Business and Business Ethics.
The company have reputable business relationships with Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama Councils, providing tree removal and maintenance services.
They also assist the State Emergency Services and the Rural Fire Service with storm and fire damage on a 24/7 emergency call out service.
They have been in operation in the Wollongong region since 2012.
KEY FACTS:
- Over 30,000 reported work-related injuries in NSW last year
- 60 work-related fatalities
- 10 fatalities in the aboriculture industry alone
- There is no licence required to work in the tree or arboriculture industry in Australia
- Since the SafeWork Awards began in 2004, NSW has seen a decline in reported work-related fatalities of nearly 50 per cent
- Bohmer is the only registered, practicing arborist in the Illawarra region with industry association Arboriculture Australia
- ‘Bohmer’ means ‘Man of the Tree’, a name given to him whilst climbing trees across Europe and the US
Check out the December/January 2016-2017 issue of The Australian Arbor Age magazine to read the “Industry People” feature about Clive Woodnutt and Bohmer’s Tree Care.
