Workplace health and safety
Strengthening workplace safety through proactive prevention and employee engagement
Companies across the AVK Group operate within the process industry, where employees carry out manual work involving heavy materials and equipment. Although these tasks are generally not categorised as high‑risk, accidents can still occur. Ensuring a safe working environment is therefore a key priority, and safety remains an essential part of how we operate.
To support this, AVK works continuously to strengthen the safety culture among leaders and employees. Our goal is that no one takes unnecessary risks, and that all employees contribute actively to prevention by reporting unsafe conditions, unsafe actions, and near‑misses. Ergonomics and correct working postures also form an important part of our preventative efforts, helping reduce strain and work‑related injuries.
A key element of our approach is systematic learning. Accident and near‑miss data are collected and analysed across facilities to identify trends and underlying causes. These insights guide targeted improvements and ensure that our safety initiatives are both evidence‑based and effective.
Employees across the Group participate in workshops and regular safety walks designed to strengthen awareness and empower teams to identify risks proactively. SQDIPP boards (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Inventory, Productivity, and People) support ongoing follow‑up, while companies with elevated incident trends receive additional guidance to establish strong local processes for reporting near‑misses and unsafe actions. This ensures a consistent and high level of safety performance across all AVK operations.
Case Example: AVK Australia Improves Safety Outcomes Through Proactive Injury Management
In 2024/25, AVK Australia achieved a significant improvement in workplace safety performance. The Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) decreased from 23.47 in March 2025 to 3.77 in August 2025, after which the company maintained zero lost time injuries across all operations.
This development reflects the teams’ commitment to strengthening a proactive and preventative safety culture. Following a detailed review of incident data and hazard reporting trends, AVK Australia found that many injuries could have been prevented through earlier intervention and improved situational awareness.
To address this, the business implemented a structured improvement programme under the theme “Stop, Think, Act”, aimed at reinforcing personal accountability and improving decision‑making in daily operations.
Key elements of the programme included:
- Daily safety conversations: Introduction of “Start Safe” meetings at the beginning of each shift, encouraging employees to assess their immediate work environment before commencing tasks.
- Stronger hazard identification and near‑miss reporting: Simplified reporting to empower employees to raise potential hazards promptly, fostering a culture of early intervention.
- Leadership engagement: Regular safety walks and informal discussions between supervisors and employees to identify improvement opportunities in real time.
- Focused training sessions: Targeted training in critical risk management and control verification, ensuring employees understand the purpose behind safety procedures.
- Collaborative reviews: Team‑based evaluation of all reported hazards and near‑misses to identify trends and implement corrective actions quickly.
These initiatives have strengthened employee ownership of safety outcomes and improved communication across the organisation. The transition from reactive incident response to proactive prevention has been central to achieving and maintaining a zero‑LTIFR result.
AVK Australia’s experience demonstrates the value of combining leadership visibility, workforce involvement, and streamlined processes to drive lasting cultural change. It also highlights how shared responsibility for identifying and addressing risks creates the foundation for sustained safety excellence.
About Safety First
Safety First, developed by AVK Holding, establishes a unified approach to workplace safety across all AVK companies. The programme focuses on reducing accidents and enhancing safety culture through systematic training, proactive risk identification, and widespread employee involvement.
By analysing local safety performance, verifying safety activities, and gathering employee input on risks and unsafe practices, Safety First provides a solid foundation for continuous improvement. The programme aims to foster a strong safety culture, minimise accidents, and reduce absenteeism caused by injuries, ensuring that every employee return home safely.
