Discount retailer The Reject Shop has won the Vero RM Advancer award for excellence in workers’ compensation and liability risk management.

A record number of entrants competed in the category, which Suncorp-owned insurer Vero introduced last year to recognise the importance of workplace health and safety.

“Health and safety is important in all workplaces, and with workers’ compensation often one of the biggest insurance costs, risk management is vital,” Suncorp EGM Commercial Portfolio Darren O’Connell said.

“Across the board, the quality of submissions for all RM Advancer categories shows the strong position of risk management in Australian businesses.”

UnitingCare Queensland – a synod of the Uniting Church in Australia – won in the commercial category, and mental health services specialist Mind Australia took the SME prize. The winners each receive 200,000 Virgin Velocity points.

More than 100 risk management leaders attended the awards event last week in Melbourne.

The Vero RM Advancer Awards were established in 2005 to recognise and encourage risk management practices among Vero clients.