Mr Anderson is a carpenter and, with such a physical job, the road back to work was a long one.
“Getting back to work, I was obviously on light duties for a while,” Mr Anderson said.
He worked with a physiotherapist, modified his hours and the jobs he took on, and avoided tasks such as heavy lifting.
Gradually, as his mobility returned, he was able to get back to working as normal.
Now, Mr Anderson is a finalist for the WorkSafe Awards, which celebrate initiatives in workplace health and safety and return to work.
He’s one of 21 finalists across six award categories, chosen from a list of almost 150 nominations.
Mr Anderson is a finalist in the Worker Return to Work category.
“I don’t really know what I’ve done to be nominated for this award,” Mr Anderson said.
He said he simply did what he was told during his recovery.
“I mean, it’s good, I’m happy about it,” he said.
“It’s great to be recognised for putting in the effort.
“It was a pretty big change of pace … it was a long process.”
Workplace safety overall is important to Mr Anderson and his colleagues, he said.
The winners of the 35th annual WorkSafe Awards will be announced at an event at the Park Hyatt Melbourne on Thursday, February 27.
WorkSafe chief executive Joe Calafiore said it was inspiring to see such a diverse mix of workplaces and individuals represented this year.
“Our finalists come from a wide range of industries, including construction, education, healthcare and more,” Mr Calafiore said.
“It’s wonderful to see advancements in workplace health and safety happening right across the board.”
Whether it be height-adjustable change tables, world-first snow ambulances or using artificial intelligence to help prevent falls from height, Mr Calafiore commended the finalists for pushing the boundaries with their safety solutions.
The awards feature a record six finalists this year in the Health and Safety Representative of the Year category and also highlight important achievements in the prevention of workplace mental injury and getting injured workers back to safe and sustainable employment.
Tickets are on sale until Friday, February 7.
Find more information at tinyurl.com/yhtjnnp7
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