The Civic Mutual Plus (CMP) Risk Management Awards recognise initiatives that have improved community safety, reducing or eliminating injuries and losses that can lead to public liability claims. Open to Tasmanian Councils, these annual awards acknowledge best practice in risk management, addressing public safety risk exposures.
CMP is the public liability insurer for Councils in Victoria and Tasmania.
Hobart City Council took out the Risk Management Initiative Award over six other entrants, while Waratah–Wynyard Council received the Risk Management Encouragement Award.
Hobart received its award for minimising community and employee exposure to wood fibres and dust during tree maintenance activities. Wood dust and fibres are known carcinogenic agents for industrial exposure and are suspected to cause respiratory and skin irritations and disorders.
Hobart’s program demonstrates key elements of risk management processes including the following:
- consultation and communication
- review of the outcome
- measurable change in the level of risk (dust readings before and after controls were applied)
- researching and evaluating possible solutions.
This award also recognises the potential for Hobart’s initiative to be applied across the State and addresses what is potentially a widespread health issue.
Waratah–Wynyard Council received the Encouragement Award for introducing and improving processes to reduce risks. CMP’s annual audit showed that Waratah–Wynyard has significantly improved performance in recent years in the areas of road and footpath, recreation reserves, tree and playground management, building control and planning.
Waratah–Wynyard is using its risk register to monitor identified risks and take action to ensure it is actively and appropriately managing public safety issues.
