14 Oct Competition! – National Safe Work Month – Winner 2

We were excited to receive so many entries for our first week’s competition which was centred around Work Health and Safety Fundamentals. It was very difficult to choose a winner as there were quite a few excellent entries but there can only be one prize each week. The winning entry was submitted by Damian T and he now has free enrolment to a BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety qualification.

The winning entry is:

After my workplace injury, I was left in a difficult position, uncertain about what would come next. I had worked hard to recover as much as possible, eager to contribute again. Holding a Certificate IV and a Diploma in Work Health and Safety (WHS), I was confident I could transition to a less physically demanding role, especially given my background and knowledge in safety.

But when I reached out to the PCBU to explore options for suitable duties, the response was disheartening. “There are no suitable duties available,” they said. I was left feeling sidelined, as if my injury had erased all of my value. This was hard to accept, especially when, around the same time, I noticed the company was actively hiring safety officers. The irony was unbearable. I was more than qualified, having the latest training and certifications, yet here I was being told there was no role for me, while they brought in others to do the job I was well-equipped for.

The emotional toll was significant. I felt dismissed, not only as an employee but also as a person. It was clear that my injury had shifted how I was seen—no longer as a capable, knowledgeable professional but as a liability. This affected my mental health and confidence. I began questioning my worth and wondering if my injury had reduced my value in the workforce entirely. I felt excluded, even betrayed by the very system that was supposed to support my recovery and reintegration into the workplace.

What hurt the most was the loss of dignity. I wasn’t asking for charity; I had the skills and the willingness to contribute. But instead of being treated with respect and given a fair chance to use my qualifications, I was left feeling like an outsider in my own workplace. 

So, remember this week’s competition is on the subject of Risk Management Fundamentals:

Risk is defined as the likelihood of something that can cause injury, death, loss or difficulty and one could argue that managing Risk effectively would eliminate the need for any injury in the workplace but that is somewhat unrealistic as we are talking about people and some folk do things that at times, are simply unexplainable. In assessing Risk, we follow a step-by-step process which allows us to apply a rating and an appropriate control to it. Normally our control mechanism is determined after conducting  a formal risk assessment and then referring to the Hierarchy of Controls. What involvement have you had in assessing Risk? What was the Risk and how did you manage it?

So get your entry in and share your story with the WHS world, You have until this Friday the 11th to submit your story. All you need to do is email your experience to [email protected]. Please put your name and suburb you live in, plus the theme you are entering for.

You may just save a life and win yourself a free WHS qualification.