URBNSURF's Operations and Risk Manager recognised at Victoria’s Worksafe Awards

Surfing attraction URBNSURF Melbourne has been recognised at Victoria’s 2021 Worksafe Awards with Operations and Risk Manager Ash Presser securing the Occupational Health and Safety Leadership/Achievement award.

Presented last month, the OHS Leadership/Achievement award was one of eight presented across seven categories, with Worksafe advising “the OHS Leadership/Achievement award acknowledges an individual that has achieved or influenced significant improvements to occupational health and safety within their workplace, industry or the greater Victorian community.”

Presser’s award citation noted “when URBNSURF set out to create Melbourne's first surf park, there weren’t any existing frameworks for identifying and monitoring OHS risks in the niche industry.

“Ash undertook extensive research and developed a six-step validation process to launch a new industry safely (and was) responsible for the operational framework, risk justification and safety management systems pre and post-launch.

“As part of his efforts to reduce aquatic related risks, he designed a Surf Park Lifeguard Course which was benchmarked across various national units of competencies.

“Ash has demonstrated a strong commitment to risk management and continuous improvement, which can be applied across other industries.”

WorkSafe received more than 180 nominations from across Victoria for the seven award categories, which recognise excellence in workplace health and safety and return to work.

More than 320 people were in attendance at the recent award presentation night, including health and safety representatives Adrian Lidsey and Christopher Ball, who were recognised for their outstanding work in representing their co-workers to create a smoke-free working environment.

In total there were 23 finalists shortlisted for the 2021 WorkSafe Awards, chosen from more than 180 nominees.

Images: URBNSURF Melbourne (top) and Ash Presser with the WorkSafe 2021 Occupational Health and Safety Leadership/Achievement award (below).