QGC CHANGING GEARS TO ENSURE ROAD SAFETY

THE Australian Road Safety Awards has recognised a Brisbane business that is driving a successful campaign to ensure its staff are safe behind the wheel.

QGC, a natural gas explorer and producer, has been awarded top honours at the country’s only national road safety awards and has been recognised for its ‘QGC Safe Driving Behaviours Initiatives’ – a program which has reduced unsafe driving behaviours by 99.5 per cent.

QGC personnel and contractors drive up to 200,000km every day and during the past year the company dubbed road safety as an organisational priority to reduce safety risks.

The pioneering road safety program has recorded success with fewer than five unsafe driving behaviours occurring per month – a reduction from 200.

Mark McKenna, QGC’s Vice President of Health, Safety, Security and Emergency (HSSE) says it was an honour to win the award and is proud of all QGC staff who have worked hard to adopt safe driving behaviours at work and at home.

"We aimed to make people understand the consequences of driving behaviour and it worked quickly - speeding dropped, seatbelts are always on, phones are off and drivers stop to rest every two hours," he says.

"QGC staff have taken their safe driving behaviours home, they know their kids are watching and learning.

"QGC knows safe driving behaviours work and I’m proud of how the team embraced the challenge to drive safer, every day."

The company's program contains a range of targeted activities including the development of the QGC Safe Driving Standard, a quantitative assessment of driving risks and controls in place to reduce the risk of accident and an enforced set of zero tolerance driving behaviours.

In addition, QGC offers opportunities for employees to attend safe driving roadshow events with high profile speakers. Most recently staff heard from Beverly Brock – widow of Australian racing celebrity, Peter Brock who was killed during a racing event.

Australian Road Safety Foundation CEO Russell White says the calibre of finalists recognised at the awards was raising a new standard of excellence in the road safety field.

“We started the awards in 2010, not only to recognise achievements but to also provide a powerful motivational tool for corporate organisations, community groups and individuals to work towards safer roads in their local areas,” says White.

“Reducing the number of lives lost on roads will only happen with the concerted and combined effort of community, government and activists so I applaud not just today’s winners, but the 54 finalists programs recognised today.”

QGC won both the Corporate Fleet category as well as the Founder’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Queensland Police Citizens Youth Club were also commended and were presented with the Excellence in Road Safety Award. The group’s program, ‘Braking the Cycle,’ addresses significant road safety, community and social issues via a driving mentor program for disengaged youth working to obtain their license.

Other 2014 Australian Road Safety Award winners included: Road Accident Action Group Mackay (Community Programs); Ngarliyarndu Bindirri Aboriginal Corporation (Indigenous Initiative); Blank-it Pty Ltd (Innovation Award); Shellharbour City Council (Local Government Initiative); bstreetsmart (Schools Program) and Bicycle SA / Motor Accident Commission (State Government Initiative).