By CASEY NEILL
THE Australian Government formed the Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool (CHEP) post-World War II.
It was the handling system for defence surpluses, after the US Army left behind a wealth of materials-handling equipment at their Australian military bases.
Privatised in 1949, CHEP employs 120 people at its Dandenong South headquarters in Taylors Road, and now operates in more than 50 countries.
It’s the winner of the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce 2013 Employment Award, and the Corporate and Social Responsibility Award.
Two thirds of its Dandenong South employees are in the plant, and a third are in the office and sales areas.
It’s a 24/7 site with four production teams working every day of the year, including public holidays.
Awards chairman James Sturgess said the business had focused heavily on occupational health and safety in recent years, introducing ‘fitness for work’ programs and injury monitoring.
“And one that has been particularly welcomed on the factory floor – a warm-up and warm-down process on a per shift basis,” he said.
The program is designed to reduce sprain and strain injuries.
The organisation also provides yearly health checks as well as pre-employment medicals, bi-annual hearing tests and an employee assistance program (EAP).
On the training front, the business has a regional trainer on-site that engages in detailed induction programs, buddy programs and rotational operations during 12-hour shifts.
Mr Sturgess said there’d been targeted training to deliver multi-skilled and flexible teams, from forklift licences to systems, applications, products (SAP) training and customer training.
The business works closely with a registered training organisation and has provided Certificate III and IV training in manufacturing and logistics, with about 30 people at the Dandenong South facility going through the training over the past three years.
CHEP was also nominated for the Manufacturing, Service Excellence and Premier Regional Business awards.
