Mr Woodnutt goes by his climbing name Bohmer which is where the family business gets its name.

Bohmer’s Tree Care was a joint winner of the Excellence in Workplace Health and Safety Culture Award along with international engineering enterprise Laing O’Rourke.

There were 20 finalists for six awards presented to organisations and individuals who have gone the extra mile in work safety.

Mr Woodnutt said he worked in a high risk industry and had witnessed serious injuries and fatalities in his 30 year international career.

“My priority is to ensure that my staff go home safely at the end of each working day. I am delighted to be recognised by SafeWork NSW, who do an outstanding job at working with businesses such as Bohmer’s to reduce incidents in the workplace and encourage education around safety, an area that I’m particularly passionate about,” he said.

Mr Woodnutt thanked his wife and managing director Natasha Woodnutt who was a recent finalist in the 2016 Illawarra Women in Business Awards for her achievement training, mentoring and leadership in the male-dominated arboriculture industry.

In her 30s she is raising a family and working in the business from her Woonona home where she does mentoring, training and leadership courses. She was previously a psychologist.

Bohmer’s Tree Care holds the 2015 Local Business Award for Business Trades and Services.

It was also a 2016 finalist in two categories at the Illawarra Business Awards for Best Small Business and Business Ethics.

The company started in 2012 and provides tree removal and maintenance services in the Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama local government areas.

It also assists the State Emergency Service and the Rural Fire Service with storm and fire damage on a 24/7 emergency call out service.

SafeWork NSW executive director Peter Dunphy said the awards recognised businesses and individuals who had improved safety and injury management outcomes that have delivered tangible results through innovation, forward thinking and positive change.