Construction and trades giant Usher Group has launched a year-long safety campaign to alleviate dangers in what is considered one of society’s most hazardous industries.
‘Usher Safety First 2019’ will see a range of workplace health and safety subjects highlighted each month in a bid to educate and prevent injuries among its staff and the wider construction and trades industries.
Usher Group employs more than 500 people across seven service areas including Usher Signage, Usher Access and Usher Coatings, many of which require safety standards of the highest degree.
Usher Group Safety Manager Amanda Pennycook, who has worked in the commercial construction industry for 25 years, said the wide array of safety issues to be covered in the campaign was evidence of the need for such an initiative.
“From working at heights and heat awareness to the importance of on-site safety advocates, Usher Safety First 2019 will provide our staff and their fellow industry workers with a wealth of information,” she said.
“At Usher Group, we pride ourselves on how we care for and support our employees and that is never the case more than when it comes to safety.
“The jobs many of them do are not for the fainthearted and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure they and their colleagues are in good hands.
“Usher Safety First 2019 is another very important part of this commitment.”
The Usher Safety team has already visited worksites to educate workers on the January campaign topic – the importance of heat and sun awareness.
More than 30 Usher Group staff participated in a workshop at the Vue development on the Gold Coast, while their colleagues at a project across town were joined by staff from Hutchinson Builders.
“Health and safety affects everyone who works in our industry so we are thrilled to open our arms to crews from other companies,” Ms Pennycook said.
“We’ll be visiting more worksites in coming months to discuss topics such as Injury Prevention and Safety, Hazardous Chemicals and Mental Health.”
The Usher Safety First 2019 campaign will also align with industry charities such as MATES in Construction and Danger Sun Overhead.
Usher Group specialises in all major painting, rendering, signage and decorating services for private, public and commercial projects in Australia and New Zealand, as well offering property maintenance, access, labour hire and subcontractor services.