WINNER - Category 2 Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
The Dorsal Boutique, Forster NSW
The Dorsal Boutique Hotel is a three-year-old 4.5 star 29 suite hotel built on the beachfront in the NSW Mid North Coast town of Forster. A seasonal establishment attractive to business people during the week and as a weekend getaway for families. The Dorsal Boutique has 15 – 30 employees both casual and full time and facilities include a restaurant, bar and conference venue.
Initiative
Due to the nature of the hotel industry housekeepers sustaining back injuries became a major concern to the Dorsal Boutique. They therefore developed a bed lifting system, which is a frame that allows housemaids to make beds standing up. No more bending, stretching or dragging heavy beds. This system also assists with inspecting under the beds. It is now manufactured, patented and there is worldwide interest and installations are already happening.
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Category 2 Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
City of Sydney, Sydney NSW
The City of Sydney Council is one of the largest local government authorities in NSW employing over 1600 people.
The City of Sydney is a capital city council, which is responsible for the commercial, financial and cultural hub of the greater Sydney area.
The City continues to pursue its vision of meeting local resident's needs whilst advancing Sydney's global position as Australia's premier city, through the implementation of a range of services, programs and initiatives directed at residents, businesses and visitors.
Initiative
City of Sydney Council staff developed a plant item called the 'Stem Aligner" to alleviate the manual handling problems encountered whilst attending to damaged sign posts within the local government area and in particular the CBD district of Sydney.
The outcome of the safety solution has meant the Council has completely eliminated the risk of neck and back injuries, by not carrying out the work associated with manually straightening sign posts, but rather has left this task now to the 'Stem Aligner'; eliminating the risk of tripping or falling and increased public safety and elimination of noise
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Category 2 Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
Toll Transport, Greenacre NSW
Toll Autologistics is the specialist 3rd party automotive logistics provider within the Toll Group, the leading provider of integrated logistics services in the Asia Pacific region. Toll Autologistics - Vehicles is Australia's leading finished vehicle transportation business and is the primary service provider to car manufacturers.
Initiative
TollAutologistics identified risks associated with the loading and unloading process by employees of large vehicle transporters which exposes them to: potential falls from heights, working in confined spaces, strains, trip and slip hazard risks and much physical exertion which contributes towards fatigue and potentially further increases risks. The hazards are exacerbated during heat, cold and inclement weather as operators rush to complete the task in difficult conditions.
The solution was the 'Flatpak' 8-car vehicle transporter. The Flatpak has eliminated the requirement for operators to work at heights by allowing all of the transporter decks to flat-pack on the base of the trailer to a height of 1.5m. Once cars are driven into place on the trailer the operator exits the car, steps onto the working platform (at the 1.5m height) and descends to ground level via access steps. The operator always maintains a safe 3-point contact whilst climbing on and off the transporter. Once safely on the ground, the operator has clear access to secure the car working in a safe, upright position with both feet firmly on the ground.