Super Safety Rep - Marg Howard

Entry summary

Marg is proud of her achievements as HSR for the LeSnak DWG at Nestle Uncle Tobys manufacturing facility in Wahgunyah. Marg considers her key achievement is being the catalyst for improved plant and manual handling safety in her work area; with no recordable injuries in the last 5 years. Since being elected a HSR in 2001 Marg has developed her safety skills to the point where she now plays a key role in safety at Uncle Tobys.

Representation

Marg’s determination to drive safety improvement has been highly beneficial to the site as well as her DWG contributing significantly to injury reduction and driving a safety first culture on site.
Marg is the Chairperson of the Site Safety Committee, organises HSR training on site, coaches and mentors other HSRs, is a representative on the first aid committee and a Member of the Nestle Oceania SHE Council.
Marg nominated the construction of a platform at the Colby conveyor merge point as one of her outstanding achievements. The platform eliminated a manual handling and a fall from height risk.

Consultation

Consultation is key to Marg’s approach to dealing with OHS issues whether it be face to face meeting with management, delivering a safety chat to her DWG or publishing a safety article in the newsletter she produces.
By involving key stakeholders, Marg is able to drive OHS initiatives to a successful conclusion.
Marg sees it as important that she is available to all shifts in her DWG and will regularly come in early, or stay late to consult or deliver a key safety communication.

Approach

Marg’s consultative approach with management along with her ability to articulate safety issues has enabled her to successfully negotiate barriers. By creating a safety case using risk assessment tools, Marg presents safety issues, including solutions to management in a package that enables them to approve change based on her assessment.
A belief that outcomes are best achieved by a cooperative approach, not by confrontation has been key to her success in driving safety improvement initiatives.

Workplace improvements

Marg’s willingness to act not only in the interests of her DWG but for the site as a whole sets an example to others as to what can be achieved using enthusiasm, passion, drive and the willingness to help others. Marg’s position as a senior HSR on site and her demonstrated safety leadership has led to her being increasingly used in a mentor role for other HSRs in improving safety outcomes in their work areas. Her influence in creating a better safety culture at Uncle Tobys cannot be overstated.

Achievements

Over the 10 years as being an HSR, Marg has enabled so many improvements in her work area that they cannot all be listed here. What makes Marg exceptional is her ability to drive successful safety outcomes, her influencing skills, passion and her desire to make Uncle Tobys a safer Workplace.
Marg is having an impact off site as well with her recent appointment to the Nestle Oceania SHE Council. In this role she assists other Nestle sites with safety projects and gives up her own time to participate in community activities as a member of the Corowa Shire Safety Committee including running a safety display at the Corowa Truck and Safety Show held in September.

*Disclaimer:
The publishing of entries on the WorkSafe Awards website and or/the granting of an award does not constitute any endorsement by WorkSafe Victoria of a product, method or service, or the occupational health and safety performance of the workplace. Monthly Champions must undergo expert review to progress through to the stringent validation and judging process and can only progress to the next stage of entry once WorkSafe are satisfied that the entry/entrant has met the relevant award category criteria and terms and condition of entry.

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